Cessna 150M accident near Lacrosse, Wisconsin, December 18, 1989
On December 18, 1989 at about 8:32 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704NP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lacrosse, Wisconsin. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE A PLAN TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT AS NECESSARY. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT, AS DID THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 1989 · about 8:32 pm local time
- Place
- Lacrosse, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704NP · no longer on the register · serial 15078745
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING HIS DESCENT TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND THEN QUIT. THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND TREES DURING ITS EMERGENCY DESCENT. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE DEPARTING ON THIS, THE SECOND LEG OF HIS SOLO CROSS COUNTRY.
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: 51 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,804 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 29, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Valley Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RFD Rockford IL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: LSE Lacrosse WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:21 pm from LSE, 2 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.