Cessna 150L accident near Kotzebue, Alaska, May 4, 1988
On May 4, 1988 at about 7:55 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N6592G, was destroyed in an accident near Kotzebue, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1988 · about 7:55 am local time
- Place
- Kotzebue, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6592G · no longer on the register · serial 15072092
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE CITY ALONG THE BEACH LINE. FAA INSPECTORS, THE ALASKA STATE TROOPERS ACCIDENT REPORT AND SEVERAL WITNESSES REVEALED THAT THE PILOT STATED PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT THAT HE INTENDED TO COMMIT SUICIDE. THE PLT HAD A FIGHT WITH HIS GIRL FRIEND THAT NIGHT AND SHE SAID SHE TOLD HIM SHE DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIM AGAIN. HE WAS ALREADY UNDER STRESS FROM PROBLEMS AT HIS HOME AND HAD TOLD A FRIEND THAT HE WAS GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE. HE ADDED THAT HE HAD PICKED A PLACE AND WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE ELT OFF SO NO ONE WOULD FIND HIM. POST ACC INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE ACFT HIT A 70 FT CLIFF ABOUT 15 FT ABOVE THE BASE NEAR SADIE CREEK. THE ACFT AT GROUND CONTACT WAS IN A 15 DEGREE LEFT BANK WITH THE NOSE SLIGHTLY LOW. THE ACFT WAS REPORTED AS 'BUZZING' A FISHING CAMP NEARBY AND HEADING OFF IN THE DIRECTION OF SADIE CREEK ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE CRASH.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 120 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.