Cessna 150M accident near Joplin, Missouri, September 20, 1992
On September 20, 1992 at about 6:26 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9234U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joplin, Missouri (Joplin Regional 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
POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ALONG WITH THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFT ENCOUNTERED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1992 · about 6:26 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Joplin, Missouri · Joplin Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9234U · registry record · serial 15078184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR THE 30 MINUTE FLIGHT WITH 8 GALLONS OF FUEL. ON SHORT FINAL AT HIS DESTINATION, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A DOWNDRAFT FORCED THE AIRPLANE INTO TREES WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE AFTER WHICH TIME IT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 2 3/4 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE AIRPLANE. UNUSABLE FUEL LOAD FOR THE AIRPLANE IS 3 1/2 GALLONS.
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: 66 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 7 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,392 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1992; 84 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: Shangra-La OK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:32 pm from JLN, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N9234U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9234U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 150 7,992 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-200-A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Joplin Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Missouri 1,640 since 1982 · 219 in the last ten years
- Missouri 5,821 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N9234U 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI92LA284.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.