# NTSB MKC88LA156: Cessna 152, N96344, St Charles, MO, August 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1988, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: St Charles, MO
- Coordinates: 38.790924, -90.509506 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7909&lon=-90.5095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34629/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA156

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - precautionary landing - performed
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING THE FLT, HE ENCTRD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS A DOWNDRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ABOUT 400 FT OF ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A CORN FIELD & WAS DAMAGED. ABOUT 13 MI SE AT ST LOUIS, THE VISIBILITY WAS RPRTD TO BE 1.5 MI WITH HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS, HAIL & WIND GUSTS TO 30 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96344](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96344-2017-11-21), registration cancelled 2017-11-21, S/N 8644, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BCS12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bcs12-d) (registry code 8850318) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8644
- Airframe hours: 3600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Schneider, Sidney
- Registered owner: Sidney Schneider
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 1988
- Departed: JEF, JEFFERSON CITY, MO
- Destination: 3SQ, ST CHARLES, MO
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 246 total, 114 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL, 13 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880812039099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880812039099A), Aug 12, 1988: Cessna 152, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. Flew into area of thunderstorm. A severe downdraft prompted pilot to land in a open field. Lost control landing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.