Cessna A150K accident near Mesquite, Texas, November 23, 2007
On November 23, 2007 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna A150K, registered N8301M, was destroyed in an accident near Mesquite, Texas (Phil L Hudson Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during takeoff-initial climb. Factors contributing to the accident are the instructor's decision to takeoff with excessive flaps, the improper maintenance replacement of the flap fuse, and the inability to raise the flaps due to a nonfunctional flap fuse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2007 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mesquite, Texas · Phil L Hudson Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150K · all A150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8301M · no longer on the register · serial A15000001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses related that the airplane had been refueled prior to departing on an instructional flight. Shortly after departure, during the initial climb, a witness saw the airplane in a steep turn, followed by the nose dropping, and the airplane entering a spin prior to impact. A flight instructor, familiar with accident type airplane, also saw it prior to impact, and said he thought the wing flaps were extended approximately 20 to 30 degrees. During the wreckage examination, the wing flap indicator was found damaged, and read about 28 degrees down. The flap actuator jackscrew measurement equated to flaps extended about 30 degrees. A separate electrical supply was connected to the flap motor, bypassing the internal electrical circuits, and the motor was energized. The jackscrew successfully raised and lowered the flaps. The fuse for the electric flap motor was removed from the instrument panel. Beneath the fuse holder, the instrument panel was marked: "FLAPS SLO-BLO." The fuse had the markings: "BUSS AGS 10" on the side. An examination of the fuse revealed that it was blown (nonfunctional). The Operators Manuel states: "Note: A special "SLO-BLO" fuse protects the wing flaps circuit. If this fuse is replaced, care should be taken to assure that the replacement fuse is of the proper type and capacity. A "SLO-BLO" fuse is identified by an integrally mounted spring encircling the fuse element." Additionally, the manual calls for a SLO-BLO fuse rated for 15 amps. On flap operation, the following is noted; "Flap deflections of 30 and 40 degrees are not recommended at any time for take-off." An examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The gross weight of the airplane was estimated to be approximately 1,770 pounds, or about 170 pounds over the allowable gross weight. ,
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ Mesquite TX at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Mesquite TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,999 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:23 pm from HQZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.