Cessna 150L accident near East Lynne, Missouri, June 20, 1987
On June 20, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N17297, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Lynne, Missouri (Richter (Pvt) 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 20, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- East Lynne, Missouri · Richter (Pvt) · 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
- N17297 · registry record · serial 15073710
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC HAD BEEN PRACTICING T&G LNDGS FOR THE PREVIOUS HOUR OR SO AND DECIDED TO STOP BRIEFLY TO WAIT OUT RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AREA. AFTER WAITING THE PIC FUELED THE ACFT WITH 10 GAL OF AVN FUEL AND TAXIED TO THE ACTIVE RWY TO RETURN TO HIS ORIGINATING ARPT. THE PIC NOTED THE WIND SOCK AND TAXIED TO THE APPROPRIATE RWY FOR THE TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF THE ACFT GAINED 30 TO 40 FT. THE PIC STATED THAT 'A STALL SEEMED TO BE COMING ON AND I LEVELED THE ACFT. FLIGHT FELT GOOD. LEFT WING DROPPED ABRUPTLY & ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT. AIRSPEED INDICATOR SHOWED 40 KNOTS. I LOOKED UP AND ACFT WAS FACING 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF DIRECTION OF FLT. ACFT IMPACTED IN DITCH.' NO MALF OF FLT CONTROLS WERE FOUND. ACFT ENG HAD NO MALF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midwest Executive Aircraft,Inc
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N17297 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.