Cessna 150 accident near Navasota, Texas, October 8, 1988
On October 8, 1988 at about 1:08 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N51112, was substantially damaged in an accident near Navasota, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 8, 1988 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- Navasota, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N51112 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT STRUCK A TREE DURING A NIGHT FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING AN ENG FAILURE IN CRUISE FLT. THE ENG FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FLT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR 4 HOURS AND 44 MINUTES; HOWEVER, THE PLT HAD CALCULATED THAT HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL TO MAKE HIS DESTINATION WITH A 30 MINUTE RESERVE. HE OVERFLEW SEVERAL AIRPORTS THAT HAD FUEL AVAILABLE DURING THE FINAL STAGES OF THE FLT. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 15 MILES PAST ONE OF THOSE AIRPORTS.
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: 125 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 9:24 pm
- Destination: DWH Tomball TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.