Cessna 150 accident near Howard, Kansas, March 17, 1996
On March 17, 1996 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1532Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Howard, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's failure to obtain timely assistance after encountering adverse weather during a cross-country flight which led to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1996 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Howard, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1532Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072832
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot received a weather briefing at 0932 for a cross-country flight from Osage City, KS to Joplin, MO, to Newton, KS and back to Osage City. The weather forecast given to the pilot for the intended route was clouds greater than 10,000 feet with restricted visibility. The pilot departed Osage City at 1140. Upon arrival at Joplin the fuel tanks were topped off with 9.7 gals. The pilot then departed Joplin for Newton, KS (144 nm) at 1340. The pilot reported that low clouds and rain were encountered en route to Newton, and he subsequently (at 1607) advised AFSS that he was returning to Osage City due to weather. He also advised he was low on fuel. At 1625 the engine had a complete loss of power and a forced landing was made in a plowed field. The accident location was approximately 87 nm miles from Joplin. After the accident, the engine was test-run and it operated normally.
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: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,398 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 4, 1996; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JLN Joplin MO at 7:40 pm
- Destination: EWK Newton KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from CN, 40 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.