Cessna 150G accident near Franklin, Wisconsin, April 5, 1990
On April 5, 1990 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3876J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Wisconsin (Rainbow airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING). THE WIND CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1990 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Wisconsin · Rainbow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3876J · no longer on the register · serial 15065176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT, HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 27 (2,155' X 33', ASPHALT). WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE OUT OF 320 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT DESCRIBED HIS APPROACH TO LANDING AND TOUCHDOWN AS 'SMOOTH AND NORMAL.' HOWEVER, HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROLLING OUT 'A STRONG GUST CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE GROUND (SOFT SOD) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER, COMING TO A STOP INVERTED ON THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 78 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,287 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1990; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bales CORP.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,155 ft by 33 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MKE, 7 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.