Cessna 150J accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 8, 1990
On June 8, 1990 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N50788, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL AND THE HIGH VEGETATION IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1990 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Las Cruces, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N50788 · registry record · serial 15069554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF AND FLEW FOR 50 MINUTES ON WHAT SHE ESTIMATED WAS 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT, SHE REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT. SHE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN WITH BRUSH AND SHORT MESQUITE BUSHES. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH WING FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND ONLY A TRACE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
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
- Operator: West Mesa Flying Assoc. INC.
The flight
- Destination: LRW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.