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Atlas / NTSB / MKC87FA015

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event MKC87FA015

1986-11-05 LIBERAL, Kansas, United States Airport · LBL Fatal 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N510SU

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 150L

Year of manufacture

1973 · 13 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES (100 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19730205

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A66312

Registrant of record

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN JUST OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 17 AT LIBERAL, KS, WHILE ON A RETURN FLT TO TEXAS. DARK NIGHT CONDITONS PREVAILED AND NO HORIZON VISUAL CUE WERE AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. RELIANCE ON FLT ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN NORMAL DEPARTURE ATTITUDES. EXAM OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OF THE ENGS, AIRFRAME, FLT CONTROLS, OR FLT ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. NO RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE HIS FLIGHT TIME. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1986_MKC87FA015.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.