Cessna 205 accident near Moline, Illinois, May 7, 1988
On May 7, 1988 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N647MA, was destroyed in an accident near Moline, Illinois (Moline airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. 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 7, 1988 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Moline, Illinois · Moline · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N647MA · registry record · serial 0380
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE AND THEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE SUBSEQUENT OFF AIRPORT LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP REVEALED INTERNAL BEARING FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP SHAFT TO SEIZE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,580 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1,580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,041 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cdn Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MLI at 3:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.