Cessna 150 accident near Rolla, Missouri, December 17, 1988
On December 17, 1988 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rolla, Missouri (Rolla Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- December 17, 1988 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Rolla, Missouri · Rolla Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704LB · registry record · serial 15078686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING FROM A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT SAID THAT THE WINDS PICKED UP AND HE WAS BLOWN 30 MILES EAST OF HIS INTENDED COURSE. IN ADDITION, HE WAS RUNNING ONE HOUR OVER THE TIME ALLOTTED FOR THE TRIP. HE LANDED AT CUBA, MO, WHICH WAS ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF HIS DESTINATION, TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL FUEL. THERE WAS NO ONE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APT, AND FUEL WAS AVAILABLE BY PHONE REQUEST. HE RATIONALIZED HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE HIS DESTINATION, SO HE DEPARTED THE APT. ABOUT 2 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION THE THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED. THE ACFT STRUCK SOME TREES ABOUT 600 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, CARTWHEELED AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT HAD TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD, WITH A THREE YEAR OLD SITTING ON THE LAP OF THE OTHER PASSENGER, WITH NO SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS FOR THE CHILD. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS TO BE EMPTY.
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: 89 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,582 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 22, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dickman Aviation Services, INC
The flight
- Departed from: UBX Cuba MO at 6:50 pm
- Destination: KO7 Rolla MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,020 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from VIH, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.