Cessna 150 accident near Lyme, Connecticut, December 16, 1988
On December 16, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N63136, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lyme, Connecticut. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING; THE STUDENT PILOT BECAME LOST AND RAN OUT OF FUEL. DURING THE LANDING HE MISJUDGED DISTANCE, ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND OVERRAN THE FIELD COLLIDING WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lyme, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N63136 · no longer on the register · serial 15077128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, DUE TO IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS, HE INADVERTENTLY BECAME LOST. HE FLEW OVER TWO CONTROLLED APRTS AND DID NOT LAND BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THE PROPER RADIO FREQUENCIES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG IN AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.
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: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Charter Express, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Plymouth MA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Pittsfield MA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°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.