Cessna 150 accident near Granite Shoals, Texas, March 6, 2019
On March 6, 2019 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150, registered N6917F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Granite Shoals, Texas (Granite Shoals Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to takeoff with a limited amount of fuel onboard, which unported during a turn, resulting in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2019 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Granite Shoals, Texas · Granite Shoals Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 F, built 1966 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6917F · no longer on the register · serial 15063517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he last fueled the airplane about 5 months before the accident. Before the flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection and sumped both wing fuel tanks. The left fuel tank had some sediment present, but as he continued sumping the fuel became clear. The fuel in the right fuel tank ran clear. After engine start, the left tank fuel gauge indicated near empty, and the right fuel tank gauge indicated about 1/4 full. Subsequently, the pilot took off for a personal cross-country flight. After starting a right turn, and about 600 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot then attempted to turn back to the airport but realized that the airplane was too low, so he executed a forced landing to a field with small trees, during which the left wing struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported that, after the accident, he found more sediment in the left tank. He stated that he believed that the low fuel state and the sediment in the left tank may have starved the engine of fuel during the turn and that having more fuel onboard would have “probably been helpful.” However, it is more likely that, due to the low fuel state, when the pilot conducted the right turn, the fuel became unported, resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2016; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 SERIES (piston); 4,562 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2G5 Granite Shoals TX at 6:55 pm
- Destination: HYI San Marcus TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from AUS, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array CEN19LA101 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Telephone Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.