Cessna 150J accident near Palmyra, New York, July 25, 1988
On July 25, 1988 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51413, was destroyed in an accident near Palmyra, New York (Palmyra Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 25, 1988 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Palmyra, New York · Palmyra Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51413 · registry record · serial 150-69993
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA N51413 DEPARTED PALMYRA AIRPARK WITH FULL FLAPS AND CRASHED INTO A BARN ABOUT 75 FEET PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 35. AFTERWARD, THE FLAP ACTUATOR WAS FOUND IN THE FLAP UP POSITION. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE LOST 200 TO 300 RPM ABOUT 300 FEET PRIOR TO REACHING THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY 35. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE AND CARBURETOR HEAT GENERALLY CLEARED IT UP AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. A WITNESS, LOCATED IN THE ARPT BLDG WITH THE UNICOM, SAID THAT HE SAW THE ACFT WITH FULL FLAPS DOWN AND CALLED ON UNICOM 'YOU'VE GOT FULL FLAPS ON, ABORT.' THE PLT LATER SAID THAT HE LET THE PASSENGER MAKE A LANDING WITH FULL FLAPS AND FORGOT TO RAISE THE FLAPS PRIOR TO THE LAST TAKEOFF.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 782 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6G3 Palmyra NY at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from ROC, 29 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.