Cessna 150H accident near West Fargo, North Dakota, January 4, 1986
On January 4, 1986 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23148, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Fargo, North Dakota (West Fargo Utility airport). It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1986 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- West Fargo, North Dakota · West Fargo Utility · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23148 · registry record · serial 15068754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PLT, HE WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, WHEN THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY AND CONTACTED A SNOW BANK. THE PLT INDICATED HE HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF APX 23 HRS, INCLUDING 1.5 HRS SOLO. THIS WAS HIS THIRD SOLO FLT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,758 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 19, 1985; 71 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: FAR Fargo ND at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,830 ft by 147 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FAR, 4 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.