Cessna 150 accident near Gladewater, Texas, November 11, 1988
On November 11, 1988 at about 3:15 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N16135, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gladewater, Texas (Municipal airport). It was a personal 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
- November 11, 1988 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Gladewater, Texas · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N16135 · no longer on the register · serial 15073502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A PERSONAL NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE HOME AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE AND HAD TO ACCEPT A FORCED LANDING ON A RAILROAD TRACK. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, ONE WING IMPACTED A TREE BUT THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AND LANDED ON THE TRACKS. DURING AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PILOT AND AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NOTICED THE INDICATED FUEL QUANTITY IN THE TANKS HAD DECREASED MORE RAPIDLY ON THIS LEG OF THE FLIGHT. THE INSPECTOR FOUND THE PRIMER UNLOCKED, WITH THE PLUNGER EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH. AN ENTRY IN THE AIRPLANE LOGBOOK INDICATED AN 'O' RING HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE PRIMER, PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEG OF THIS FLIGHT.
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: 244 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Misty B. Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: 3F7 Bristow OK
- Destination: O7F
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.