Cessna 180 accident near Rolla, Missouri, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9161C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rolla, Missouri (Rolla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1988 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rolla, Missouri · Rolla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N9161C · registry record · serial 31260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT APPROACHED THE ROLLA, MISSOURI AIRPORT HE STATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO BOTH TANKS IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHICH DIRECTION HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING BUT DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO MANEUVER TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND RUN IN A TEST CELL. ALL ENGINE PARAMETERS WERE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 929 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 819 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,661 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLK Point Lookout MO at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,020 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from VIH, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9161C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC88FA082.