Cessna 150C accident near Funston, Georgia, April 7, 1988
On April 7, 1988 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150C, registered N7956Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Funston, Georgia. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- April 7, 1988 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Funston, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150C · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7956Z · no longer on the register · serial 15060056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST PWR AT 200-250 FT AGL AFTER DEPARTING RWY 30 AT THE PRIVATE 1,750' SOD AIRSTRIP. HE STRETCHED HIS GLIDE TO AVOID WIRES OFF OF THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER CLEARING THE LINES. THE AIRPLANE NOSE 'FELL THROUGH', AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NOSE DOWN. A WX STATION ABOUT 25 MI AWAY WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 300 AT 17 KTS GUSTING TO 22 KTS AT THE TIME. TWO WITNESSES WHO LIVED ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS TOSSED FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN THE GUSTY WINDS AS IT WAS CLIMBING; IT SUBSEQUENTLY 'STALLED OUT' AS THE PLT MADE AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO PULL UP, TO AVOID HITTING THE WIRES. THE WITNESSES DID NOT REPORT ANY CHANGES IN THE ENGINE SOUND. THE REPORTED PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO REPOSITION THE ACFT FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE LAST ANNUAL TOOK PLACE ABOUT 5 YRS EARLIER. NO FERRY PERMIT HAD BEEN OBTAINED FOR THE FLT. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR AND NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND.
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: 550 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,803 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1983; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Norman Park GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 1,750 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from ABY, 25 miles away
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.