Cessna 150C accident near Fort Peck, Montana, July 12, 1988
On July 12, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150C, registered N7940Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Peck, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 12, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Peck, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150C · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7940Z · no longer on the register · serial 15060040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A TAKEOFF FROM A MUDDY, DIRT, ROAD. HE SAID THAT AFTER HE BECOME AIRBORNE HE PUT HIS AIRCRAFT INTO A SHARP TURN IN ORDER TO AVOID SOME POWER LINES. ALTHOUGH HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN AVOIDING THE POWER LINES, HE INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS AIRCRAFT.
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: 6,700 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,418 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1987; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 5:28 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.