Cessna 150M accident near Crane, Indiana, March 2, 1988
On March 2, 1988, a Cessna 150M, registered N66452, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crane, Indiana. It was an instructional 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
- March 2, 1988
- Place
- Crane, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66452 · registry record · serial 15076059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N66452, COLLIDED WITH A STREET SIGNPOST AT THE CRANE NAVAL DEPOT, CRANE, IN, DURING LANDING ROLL AFTER A PRECAUTIONARY EMERGENCY LANDING. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE STUDENT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A TWO-LEG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE BECAME LOST DURING THE FLIGHT, AND DECIDED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO LOW FUEL AND IMPENDING DARKNESS.
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: student
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Washington Aeronautics CO.
The flight
- Departed from: 012 Brazil IN
- Destination: FRH French Lick IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.