Cessna 150 accident near Iola, Wisconsin, July 12, 1989
On July 12, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N4054J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iola, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL QUANTITY BEING NEAR THE UNUSABLE QUANTITY WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS MISJUDGED APPROACH DURING A FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iola, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N4054J · registry record · serial 15065354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,470 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1989; 12 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: 68C Iola WI at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 68C Iola WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from CWA, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.