Cessna 150H accident near Gardner, Massachusetts, October 12, 1987
On October 12, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50342, was destroyed in an accident near Gardner, Massachusetts (Gardner Munic. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- October 12, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gardner, Massachusetts · Gardner Munic.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50342 · no longer on the register · serial 15068239
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXECUTING TOUGH-AND-GO LANDINGS, THE PILOT NEGLECTED TO PARTIALLY RAISE THE WING FLAPS, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, BEFORE LIFTING OFF. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED FOR THE LANDING CONFIGURATION AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF CONTROL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.
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: 98 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,692 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1987; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from ORH, 19 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.