Cessna 150L accident near Cypress, Texas, November 20, 2022
On November 20, 2022 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 150L, registered N10612, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cypress, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the engine exhaust valve during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2022 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cypress, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1973 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10612 · no longer on the register · serial 15074924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during cruise flight the airplane engine began to run rough and shake violently. The pilot initiated a climb to a higher altitude and diverted to the nearest airport. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing on grass field, where the airplane struck a fence and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve failed. At the time of the accident, the engine exceeded the engine manufacturer’s time between overhaul period specifications as outlined in the Continental Motors Service Information Letter SIL98-9E, which is not mandatory for Part 91 operations.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Time limits › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 546 hours in all; 161 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 9, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2022; 8,238.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 8,239 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3R3 Cleveland TX at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 3R3 Cleveland TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DWH, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 20, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Correspondence - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 16 pages | 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.