Cessna 150F accident near Rio Vista, Texas, January 24, 1987
On January 24, 1987 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8033F, was destroyed in an accident near Rio Vista, Texas (Crosswind Acres airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- January 24, 1987 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, Texas · Crosswind Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8033F · no longer on the register · serial 15064433
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIVATE PILOT OF CESSNA 150K EXPERIENCED PARTIAL POWER LOSS AFTER DEPARTING PRIVATE STRIP NEAR RIO VISTA, TX. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN FOR LANDING. AFTER TAKE OFF HE WAS UNABLLE TO SUSTAIN CLIMB. AIRCRAFT HIT UTILITY POLE, AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH PAPTER TOWEL MATERIA AND LEAVES RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW TO ENGINE. ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED OFF IN AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 02TX Rio Vista TX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 51F Rio Vista TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from FTW, 42 miles away
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.