Cessna 172 accident near Linn, Missouri, November 3, 1988
On November 3, 1988 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6287E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linn, Missouri (Linn Tech airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 3, 1988 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Linn, Missouri · Linn Tech · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6287E · registry record · serial 46387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND CROSSWIND ON A 900 FOOT LONG DIRT RUNWAY, THE PILOT DECIDED HE WAS TOO HIGH AND HAD EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO AROUND. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A DIRT EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK THE NOSE WHEEL. UNAWARE OF THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE NOSEGEAR, HE CONTINUED HIS CLIMB OUT AND RE-ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR AN ALTERNATE RUNWAY, LANDING INTO THE WIND. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE NOSEGEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED DOWN, SUSTAINING DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER AND LEFT WING.
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: 117 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 78 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1988; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cochran Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MO49 Washington MO at 2:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from JEF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.