Cessna 150J accident near Dallas, Texas, September 3, 1989
On September 3, 1989, a Cessna 150J, registered N60062, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dallas, Texas (Redbird airport). 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY CALCULATE THE NECESARY FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT AND ASSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REFUELED TO PROVIDE THAT QUANTITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1989
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Redbird · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N60062 · no longer on the register · serial 15070045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM GRAND PRAIRIE TO TYLER & RETURN. AFTER INITIALLY DEPARTING GRAND PRAIRIE THE PILOT HAD PROBLEMS OPERATING THE RADIOS & RETURNED. HE AGAIN DEPARTED GRAND PRAIRIE, WITHOUT REFUELING, FOR TYLER. ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM TYLER THE PILOT BECAME LOST, AND THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD & THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDE WITH TREES & NOSED INTO A GULLY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REFUELED AT TYLER. THE AIRCRAFT HAD OPERATED 4.1 HRS.
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
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 29 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TYR Tyler TX
- Destination: F67 Grand Prairie TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.