Cessna 150J accident near Colby, Kansas, November 25, 1986
On November 25, 1986 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N60046, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colby, Kansas. 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
- November 25, 1986 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Colby, Kansas · 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
- N60046 · registry record · serial 15070032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, LOW ON FUEL, INTENDING TO REFUEL AT THE NEXT STOP WHERE HE WAS TO CONDUCT A BUSINESS TRANSACTION. UNABLE TO SECURE FUEL THERE, AND SHOWING ONE QUARTER OF A TANK ON EACH FUEL GAUGE, HE DEPARTED FOR COLBY KANSAS, OVERFLYING HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN THE PROCESS. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL FIVE MILE EAST OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPPORT. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER UPON ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN.
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: 300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLC Hill City KS at 2:25 pm
- Destination: CBK Colby KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from GLD, 35 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.