Cessna 150 accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, February 6, 1988
On February 6, 1988 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3210J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- February 6, 1988 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3210J · no longer on the register · serial 15065910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AT 350 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF. HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. HE ELECTED TO LAND OFF-AIRPORT AT AN INDUSTRIAL SITE WITH THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDING. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. A WITNESS SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE IN FLIGHT. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION DID NOT FIND EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINE MALFUNCTION. NO WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL. EXAM CONFIRMED INTERNAL ENGINE CONTINUITY, NORMAL IGNITION CAPABILITY, THE ABSENCE OF METAL IN THE OIL, AND THROTTLE AND CARB HEAT LINKAGE CONTINUITY. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS ABOUT 15 DEGREES F.
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: 201 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Westerly RI at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N3210J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.