Cessna 150 accident near Powell, Texas, September 19, 1989
On September 19, 1989 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N8256F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Powell, 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT RESULTING IN A PARTIAL, NON-MECHANICAL POWER LOSS FROM CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1989 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Powell, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8256F · no longer on the register · serial 15064356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR MODERATE ICING IN CARBURETED POWERPLANTS. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE POWERPLANT STARTED TO LOSE RPM AND THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. HE OPENED AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN OPERATING RPM AND EVENTUALLY APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 SECONDS, TO NO AVAIL. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD WHERE THE HIGH VEGETATION CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 73 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (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: CRS Corsicana TX at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from RBD, 50 miles away
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.