Cessna 150F accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1988
On May 22, 1988 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8154S, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 22, 1988 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8154S · no longer on the register · serial 15061754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT AND PERFORMED A RUNUP BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 27. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED ABOUT 200 FEET, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CORN FIELD AND DURING LANDING ROLL, WHEELS STUCK IN MUD AND FLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT OVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES.
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: 580 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 521 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 West Chester PA at 4:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,012 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.