Cessna 150-H accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 12, 1987
On April 12, 1987 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150-H, registered N50223, was destroyed in an accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa (Council Bluiffs airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 12, 1987 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa · Council Bluiffs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150-H · all 150-Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50223 · no longer on the register · serial 15069148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACQUAINTANCES STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS VERY MOTIVATED IN THE PURSUIT OF HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE AND THAT, ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO HIS INSTRUCTOR-PILOT, WHO ALSO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, THE STUDENT ACCOMPLISHED A SUCCESSFUL FIRST SOLO FLIGHT AND TAXIED BACK FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER A SHORT DEBRIEFING AND DISCUSSION WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR THE STUDENT TAXIED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND MADE A NORMAL TAKE-OFF, CLIMBOUT, AND CLOSED-CIRCUIT TRAFFIC PATTERN. DURING FINAL APPROACH, OTHER WITNESSES STATED, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN INCREASING THE PITCH ATTITUDE AND LOSING ALTITUDE WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL INPUT IN POWER. THE STUDENT SUDDENLY BROKE OFF THE APPROACH WHILE OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND PROCEEDED IN AN ERRATIC, NOSE-HIGH, LEFT TURN MANEUVER BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE CONTINUED IN THIS CONFIGURATION UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO LOSE CONTROL IN A STALL-SPIN THEN PLUMMET, NOSE FIRST TO THE GROUND.
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: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,943 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1987; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Council Bluffs Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from OMA, 7 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.