Cessna 150J accident near Deland, Florida, April 20, 1988
On April 20, 1988 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N60358, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida. It was a personal 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 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
- April 20, 1988 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N60358 · registry record · serial 15070250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING AT UMATILLA, MUNI, AN UNATTENDED ARPT, THE PLT ASKED AN UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THE ACFT'S TANKS. THE INDIVIDUAL STATED THAT FUEL IS NOT SOLD TO TRANSIENT ACFT. THE PLT DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL TANK GAUGES INDICATING 1/4 EACH. WHEN IT WAS APRX 3 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION, AT AN ALT OF APRX 1,200 FEET, THE ENG QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING THE FORCED LNDG AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT BOUNCED, TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION & THERE WAS NO ENG MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO THE ARPT OWNER, HAD HE BEEN AT THE ARPT WHEN THE PLT REQUESTED FUEL, HE WOULD HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE REQUEST. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT. PILOT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IS UNKNOWN.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X23 Umatilla FL at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from DAB, 16 miles away
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.