Cessna 150L accident near Nevada, Iowa, June 4, 1986
On June 4, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11753, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nevada, Iowa (Nevada Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 4, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nevada, Iowa · Nevada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11753 · no longer on the register · serial 15075613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE STUDENT APPEARED NERVOUS WHILE PERFORMING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION FOR WHAT WAS TO BE HER SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER ENGINE START AND INITIAL TAXI, THE STUDENT BEGAN TO EXERCISE THE THROTTLE IN AN ERRATIC FASHION, SOMETIMES GUNNING THE ENGINE TO FULL POWER, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. THE AIRCRAFT GATHERED MOMENTUM AND CAREENED BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND ROWS OF PARKED AIRCRAFT, PROMPTING HER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO GO CHASING AFTER HER. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RAMP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT AND NOSED OVER.
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
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from DSM, 30 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.