Cessna 150J accident near Lago Vista, Texas, October 16, 1986
On October 16, 1986, a Cessna 150J, registered N5552G, was destroyed in an accident near Lago Vista, Texas (Lago Vista Bar-K Airpark airport). It was an instructional 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
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 16, 1986
- Place
- Lago Vista, Texas · Lago Vista Bar-K Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5552G · registry record · serial 15071052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT HAD PLANNED A 30 MIN FLT TO PRACTICE TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER THE 3RD TOUCH-&-GO, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE CFI STATED THAT HE MEASURED THE FUEL SUPPLY WITH A RULER DRG THE PREFLT & CALCULATED THAT 6.5 GAL OR ENOUGH FOR APRX 1 HR OF FLT WAS REMAINING. HOWEVER, THE ENG QUITE AFTER ABOUT 1/2 HR OF OPERATION. THE TOTAL FUEL SUPPLY OF THE ACFT WAS 26 GAL, OF WHICH, 3.5 GAL WAS CONSIDERED AS UNUSABLE. DRG AN EXAM AFTER THE ACDNT, ONLY ABOUT 2 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING. NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,772 hours in all; 492 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 1,607 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R3 Lago Vista TX at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,790 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.