Cessna 150L accident near Onalaska, Texas, May 29, 1989
On May 29, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N17130, was substantially damaged in an accident near Onalaska, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL SYSTEM EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, ON THE GROUND, PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT AND THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Onalaska, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N17130 · no longer on the register · serial 15073630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FULL OF FUEL. THE STUDENT SAID IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT HE WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IF THE FLIGHT WENT ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT PLAN. THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT INDICATE THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FLIGHT UNTIL HE NOTICED THE FUEL GAGES WERE ON EMPTY. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE HAD FLOWN TO THE TURNAROUND AIRPORT, MADE A TOUCH-AND-CO LANDING, AND WAS ENROUTE HOME WHEN HE NOTICED THE FUEL GAGES WERE ON ZERO. HE HEADED FOR A NEARBY AIRPORT BUT THE ENGINE STOPPED BEFORE HE MADE IT THERE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OF THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE HIT A TREE STUMP AND WENT FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 3:15 pm
- Destination: CXO Conroe TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.