- Date
- August 6, 1985, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Levelland, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9807JCessna A150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850806036829A
- Case key
- 21565
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt had been observed to make takeoffs using maximum up elevator for liftoff. The elevator was found in a nineteen degree up position and both the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent upward at the tip. The down elevator clevis was observed jammed against a section of bulkhead preventing the pilot from utilizing nose down elevator prior to impact. The acft stalled and fell into a nose down left spin, which continued to impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9807J
- Reported as
- Cessna A150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- A1500616
- Airframe hours
- 1,733
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William C. Dorvillier
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1985 · 37 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 248 total · 248 in this make and model · 194 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.