Cessna 150 accident near Idabell, Oklahoma, March 16, 2008
On March 16, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N554SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Idabell, Oklahoma. 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors contributing to the accident are high and gusting winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Idabell, Oklahoma · 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
- N554SP · no longer on the register · serial 15077048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot overflew the runway, and checked the automated weather reporting station for the airport. The pilot stated that the station was reporting 27 to 35-knots sustained winds with gusts from 40 to 45-knots. The pilot then landed on runway 02 (a 5,000-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway) with 0-degrees of flaps. He added that during the flare, a gust of wind "picked-up" the right side of the airplane and subsequently the airplane dropped to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage just aft of the engine mount attachment point was buckled.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Idabel Broken Bow Paris Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 1OK4 Idabel OK
- Destination: Idabell OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:10 pm from K4O4
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.