Cessna 150L accident near Shirley, New York, January 14, 1989
On January 14, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N6888G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shirley, New York (Brookhaven airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POORLY PLANNED FINAL APPROACH, AN IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECT A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, New York · Brookhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6888G · no longer on the register · serial 15072388
- 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 ON HIS INITIAL APPROACH TO RWY 33 AT BROOKHAVEN AIRPORT HE BECAME LOW AND SLOW. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD, NOSE WHEEL FIRST. THE AIRPLANE THEN BOUNCED. THE PLT SAID HE ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND BOUNCED AGAIN. THE PLT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE PITCH OSCILLATIONS. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND CAME TO REST OFF THE END OF RWY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO AIRPLANE MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 325 hours in all; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: 4NY7 E. Mariches NY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: HWV Shirley NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 4,325 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.
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.