Cessna 150L accident near Bolivar, Missouri, May 31, 1994
On May 31, 1994 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11286, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Missouri (Bolivar Memorial Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR'S INDUCTION AIR OPENING BY A PLASTIC BAG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1994 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Missouri · Bolivar Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11286 · registry record · serial 15075300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE DURING ITS CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF. THE WITNESS OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS LABORING. THE WITNESS LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND HEARD THE COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND FOUND TO MEET THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THE ENGINE COWLING WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME PRIOR TO REMOVING THE ENGINE AT WHICH TIME A BLUE PLASTIC ICE BAG WAS FOUND LODGED IN THE COWL'S AIR INTAKE OPENING. A CHECK WITH THE BUSINESSES LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE BRAND OF ICE WAS NOT SOLD BY THEM. THE NEAREST SELLER OF THE ICE WAS ABOUT THREE BLOCKS EAST OF THE AIRPORT.
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: 1,038 hours in all; 990 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1994; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from SGF, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 CHI94LA183.