Cessna 150 accident near Varna, Illinois, December 11, 1988
On December 11, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704KV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Varna, Illinois. 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
- December 11, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Varna, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704KV · registry record · serial 15078680
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 2000' MSL ON A SOLO FLIGHT, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE INITIATED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DIRT BANK AND WAS DAMAGED. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. WHEN AN ENGINE RUN-UP WAS MADE, ALL SYSTEMS OPERATED SATISFACTORILY. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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: 62 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1988; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aircraft Medics Partnership
The flight
- Departed from: C75 Lacon IL at 6:15 pm
- Destination: VYS Peru IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PIA, 31 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.