NOVELTY - A natural gas stream containing methane and heavier hydrocarbon components is liquefied by successively cooling, expanding and distilling natural gas stream to produce volatile residue gas fraction and less volatile fraction. The volatile fraction is cooled under pressure to form condensed portion divided into a condensed stream and a liquid stream that is charged to a distillation column as top feed.    USE - Liquefying natural gas stream containing methane and heavier hydrocarbon components to produce liquefied natural gas useful as motor vehicle fuel.    ADVANTAGE - The process produces a liquefied natural gas stream having high methane purity (preferably at least 95%), and a liquid stream containing hydrocarbons heavier than methane (such as natural gas liquids comprising ethane, propane, butane and heavier hydrocarbon components; liquefied petroleum gas comprising propane, butane and heavier hydrocarbon components; or condensate comprising butane and heavier hydrocarbon components).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Liquefaction of a natural gas stream containing methane and heavier hydrocarbon components includes    (1) treating the natural gas stream in cooling step(s);    (2) expanding the cooled gas stream to an intermediate pressure;    (3) introducing the expanded gas stream to a distillation column to separate the gas stream into a volatile residue gas fraction containing a major portion of methane and lighter components, and a less volatile fraction containing a major portion of heavier hydrocarbon components;    (4) cooling the volatile residue gas fraction to condense a portion of the volatile fraction;    (5) dividing the condensed portion into at least two portions to form the condense stream and a liquid stream; and    (6) introducing the liquid stream into a distillation column as a top feed.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a liquefaction apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus comprises first heat exchanger(s) for receiving and cooling the natural gas stream; a first expansion mechanism connected to the first heat exchanger for receiving and expanding the condensed gas stream; second heat exchanger(s) (60) for receiving and cooling the natural gas stream; a second expansion mechanism for receiving and expanding the cooled natural gas stream; a distillation column (19) for receiving the expanded gas stream; a dividing mechanism connected to the first heat exchanger for receiving the condensed portion; and a controller for regulating the quantities and temperature of feed streams to the distillation column to maintain the overhead temperature at a temperature where the major portion of heavier hydrocarbon components is recovered in the less volatile fraction. The first heat exchanger is connected to the distillation column to receive the volatile gas fraction.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a flow diagram of natural gas liquefaction plant.    Distillation column (19)    Heat exchanger (60)