Cessna 150M accident near Tucson, Arizona, October 2, 1988
On October 2, 1988 at about 9:03 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N8998U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Tucson airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 2, 1988 · about 9:03 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tucson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8998U · no longer on the register · serial 15078048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER AN INTERSECTION TKOF FROM THE TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE A/C WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT LIFT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ALT TO CLEAR OBSTACLES. THE PLT ABORTED THE TKOF CLIMB AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LNDG ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. DURING THE FORCED LNDG, THE A/C NOSE WHEEL HIT THE RUNWAY FIRST AND THE A/C BOUNCED ABOUT FOUR TIMES BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A FENCE, LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE ALT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 2640 FT. THE TEMP WAS 98 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS 5730 FT. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 150 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THE CFI HAD O HRS IN A C-150 AND 2 HRS AS AN INSTRUCTOR. HE HAD 23 HRS IN A C-152 OBTAINED 2 YRS PRIOR TO THE ACC.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 328 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 207 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1988; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.