Cessna 150L accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota, November 25, 1987
On November 25, 1987 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1380Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota (Aberdeen Muni 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
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
- November 25, 1987 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, South Dakota · Aberdeen Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1380Q · no longer on the register · serial 150-72680
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WAS RETURNING HOME WITH HIS SON AND ENCOUNTERED MARGINAL VFR WEATHER. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED THROUGH FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW AT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR OVER TWENTY MINUTES. WHEN CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED FOR LANDING, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AT 3000 FEET AGL AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A CITY STREET. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE WING STRUCK TREE BRANCHES. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL REASON FOR POWER LOSS. AN ENGINE RUN SHOWED SATISFACTORY OPERATION FROM IDLE TO FULL POWER.
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: 389 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 347 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1987; 57 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: 32 U Sky Ranch SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 am from ABR, 2 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.
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.