Cessna A150L accident near New Hampton, Iowa, July 23, 1982
On July 23, 1982, a Cessna A150L, registered N5937J, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Hampton, Iowa. 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 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 23, 1982
- Place
- New Hampton, Iowa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150L · all A150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5937J · no longer on the register · serial A1500237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY OF THE PILOT/OWNER'S PRIVATE AIRFIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT PLANE WENT INTO A 180 DEG REVERSE BACKSLIDE AFTER HE STARTED A LEFT TURN AND APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND AILERON. HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE FAST AND HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, BUT THE PLANE CRASHED BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER. THE CRASH OCCURRED IN A CORN FIELD WITH A RIGHT WING LOW 30 DEG IMPACT ANGLE. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING OR MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 3,800 hours in all; 605 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 605 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New Hampton IA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: New Hampton IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 190°F (88°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.