Cessna 150M accident near Elkhart, Indiana, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9234U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkhart, 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
- August 21, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart, Indiana
- 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
- N9234U · registry record · serial 15278184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE ON THE SECOND LEG OF A SOLO STUDENT CROSS COUNTRY, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE STUDENT PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN AMOUNT APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO THE UNUSEABLE FUEL FOR THE AIRCRAFT DRIPPING FROM THE FUEL TANKS AND ABOUT 1 CUP OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE SYSTEM.
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: 35 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 11, 1988; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL at 2:49 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from SBN, 14 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.
Other NTSB records under N9234U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.