Cessna 150C accident near Jonesboro, Louisiana, August 26, 1989
On August 26, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150C, registered N7872Z, was destroyed in an accident near Jonesboro, Louisiana (Jonesboro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISE OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE TREE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesboro, Louisiana · Jonesboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150C · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7872Z · no longer on the register · serial 15059972
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT (PIC) WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT, FLYING THE AIRPLANE, & THE STUDENT PILOT/OWNER WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN & STARTED A DEVIATION TO THE RIGHT. AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY, IT TRAVELED 630 FEET, ROLLING & FLYING. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED A TREE & CAME TO REST WITH DAMAGE.
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: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Shreveport LA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: F88
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.