Cessna 150 accident near San Angelo, Texas, October 31, 1987
On October 31, 1987 at about 5:40 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3449J, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Angelo, Texas (San Angelo airport). It was a personal 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 31, 1987 · about 5:40 am local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · San Angelo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3449J · no longer on the register · serial 15066149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. DURING LANDING ROLL THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR CAME OFF, AND BOTH WINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCD BY NOT OVERFLYING BIG SPRINGS ARPT (BUT RATHER LNDG THERE AND REFUELING) AND BY KEEPING BETTER TRACK OF FLT PROGRESS AND FUEL CONSUMPTION.
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: 180 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IE9 Amarillo TX at 1:45 am
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 6,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.