Cessna 150H accident near Crescent, Iowa, September 11, 1993
On September 11, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23205, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crescent, Iowa. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AFTER ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND A LOW FUEL LEVEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Crescent, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23205 · registry record · serial 15068790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM WATERLOO, IOWA, TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER WINDS THAN HE HAD USED IN HIS FLIGHT PLANNING. WHEN HE ENTERED THE OMAHA ARSA, HE COMMUNICATED CONCERN ABOUT HIS FUEL SITUATION TO APPROACH CONTROL, BUT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. APPROACH CONTROL ADVISED THE PILOT OF A CLOSER FIELD TO USE AS AN ALTERNATE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED FIVE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING.
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: 132 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1993; 2 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: ALO Waterloo IA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: OMA Omaha NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from OMA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI93LA356.