Cessna 150M accident near Manhattan, Kansas, July 11, 1985
On July 11, 1985 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3201V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manhattan, Kansas (Mannattan Municipal 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 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 11, 1985 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · Mannattan Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3201V · no longer on the register · serial 15076418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN APRX 175 YDS SHORT OF RWY 21 AND APRX 50 FT RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE. A WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT APPEARED SLOW ON FINAL APCH AND IT WAS ROLLING SLIGHTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE NOSE OF THE ACFT THEN SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, NOSING OVER. THE PLT DOES NOT RECALL ANY OF TE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT'S HUSBAND WHO HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED 2 HRS OF FLT TRAINING WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 130 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 21, 1985; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Go Leasing CO.
The flight
- Departed from: MHK Manhattan KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:10 am from MHK, 5 miles away
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.