Aerotek PITTS S-2A and Cessna 150C accident near La Porte, Texas, March 12, 1988
On March 12, 1988 at about 11:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aerotek PITTS S-2A (N31441) and Cessna 150C (N7806Z), were involved in the same accident near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Muni airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were 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
- March 12, 1988 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aerotek PITTS S-2A · all PITTS S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N31441 · no longer on the register · serial 2172
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150C · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7806Z · registry record · serial 15059906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aerotek PITTS S-2A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PITTS S-2A TAXIING FROM LANDING COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150 THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY WAITING AS #2 FOR TAKEOFF. THE PITTS CFI SAID THE DUAL STUDENT, A PRIVATE PLT, WAS TAXIING THE PITTS FROM THE REAR SEAT. THE CESSNA WAS SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS DURING 'S' TURNS AS THE PITTS APPROACHED IT FROM BEHIND. A THIRD ACFT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CESSNA ON THE TAXIWAY AND WAS NOT SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS. THE THIRD ACFT ANNOUNCED ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT IT WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF AND THE PITTS PLTS THOUGHT THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CESSNA. THEY CONTINUED TO TAXI, THINKING THE CESSNA HAD MOVED ONTO THE RWY, AND THE PROP OF THE PITTS STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150C final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PITTS S-2A TAXING FROM LANDING COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150 THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY WAITING AS #2 FOR TAKEOFF. THE PITTS CFI SAID THE DUEL STUDENT, A PRIVATE PLT, WAS TAXING THE PITTS FROM THE REAR SEAT. THE CESSNA WAS SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS DURING 'S' TURNS AS THE PITTS APPROACHED IT FROM BEHIND. A THIRD ACFT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CESSNA ON THE TAXIWAY AND WAS NOT SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS. THE THIRD ACFT ANNOUNCED ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT IT WAS TAXING ONTO THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF AND THE PITTS PLTS THOUGHT THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CESSNA. THEY CONTINUED TO TAXI, THINKING THE CESSNA HAD MOVED ONTO THE RWY, AND THE PROP OF THE PITTS STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA.
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 for the Aerotek PITTS S-2A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,025 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 870 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,317 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1987; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 at 10:00 pm
- Destination: T41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from HOU, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: T41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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.