Cessna 152 accident near Houston, Texas, October 12, 1985
On October 12, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49958, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas (Andrau airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Andrau
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49958 · no longer on the register · serial 15281415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS LEFT HAND ON THE CONTROLS DURING THE TAKEOFF. AFTER LIFTOFF THE CFI FELT THAT THE ACFT WAS CLIMBTING TOO STEEPLY. HE TOLD THE STUDENT TO GET OFF THE CONTROLS, THINKING THAT HE WAS APPLYING TOO MUCH BACK PRESSURE. THE CFI STILL FELT THAT THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING TOO STEEPLY AND A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT OVERRAN THE REMAINING RWY AND GRASS AREA BEYOND THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT'S CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DISCOVERED ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE PLT AT A LATER DATE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 480 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 435 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,854 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,750 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.