Cessna 172M and Cessna 150M mid-air collision near Tomball, Texas, February 4, 1990
On February 4, 1990 at about 7:37 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N128S) and Cessna 150M (N714RS), were involved in a mid-air collision near Tomball, Texas (David Wayne Hooks airport). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN THE CESSNA 172, N128S, DUE TO USE OF DRUGS (CANNABINOIDS), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ADVISORY.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN THE CESSNA 172, N128S, DUE TO USE OF DRUGS (CANNABINOIDS), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ADVISORY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1990 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Tomball, Texas · David Wayne Hooks · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N128S · registry record · serial 17262981
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N714RS · registry record · serial 15079380
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT TIME OF HVY TFC, CESSNA 150 PLT (C150, N714RS) CTCD TWR & WAS TOLD TO RPRT ON 3 MI L BASE FOR RWY 35L. INSTEAD, HE RPRTD ON L DWNWND FOR 35L & WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (N9DZ), AHD OF HIM ON DWNWND. AT 1335:00 (35 SEC LTR), CESSNA 172 PLT (C172, N128S, ON A STRAIGHT-IN-APCH) RPRTD 3 MI FINAL FOR RWY 35L; HE WAS TOLD TO FLW 'CESSNA (N9DZ) TURNING LEFT BASE IN FRONT OF YOU.' AT 1335:27, C150 PLT WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (C172) ON 1-1/2 MI FINAL; C150 PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT 1336:29, C172 WAS CLRD TO LND (BHND N9DZ). AS C150 TURNED ON FINAL, IT CONVERGED WITH C172. TWR CTLR NOTED CONFLICT & ASKED C150 PLT IF HE COULD SIDE STEP TO RWY 35R; C150 PLT GAVE NEGATIVE REPLY, THEN WAS TOLD TO GO ARND, (NO SPECIFIC SAFETY ADZY WAS ISSUED). ABT 8 SEC LTR, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED ABT 100' OVR RWY THRESHOLD WITH C150'S PROP SEVERING TAIL OF C172. C172 CRASHED ON RWY; C150 LNDD WITH MINOR DMG. TOX CHECK OF C172 PLT'S BLOOD INDCD 118 NG/ML OF DELTA-9-TETRA- HYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID; HIS URINE HAD 1.0 MG/L OF 11-NOR-DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNOBINOL-9-CARBOXYLIC ACID.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT TIME OF HVY TFC, CESSNA 150 PLT (C150, N714RS) CTCD TWR & WAS TOLD TO RPRT ON 3 MI L BASE FOR RWY 35L. INSTEAD, HE RPRTD ON L DWNWND FOR 35L & WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (N9DZ), AHD OF HIM ON DWNWND. AT 1335:00 (35 SEC LTR), CESSNA 172 PLT (C172, N128S, ON A STRAIGHT-IN-APCH) RPRTD 3 MI FINAL FOR RWY 35L; HE WAS TOLD TO FLW 'CESSNA (N9DZ) TURNING LEFT BASE IN FRONT OF YOU.' AT 1335:27, C150 PLT WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (C172) ON 1-1/2 MI FINAL; C150 PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT 1336:29, C172 WAS CLRD TO LND (BHND N9DZ). AS C150 TURNED ON FINAL, IT CONVERGED WITH C172. TWR CTLR NOTED CONFLICT & ASKED C150 PLT IF HE COULD SIDE STEP TO RWY 35R; C150 PLT GAVE NEGATIVE REPLY, THEN WAS TOLD TO GO ARND, (NO SPECIFIC SAFETY ADZY WAS ISSUED). ABT 8 SEC LTR, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED ABT 100' OVR RWY THRESHOLD WITH C150'S PROP SEVERING TAIL OF C172. C172 CRASHED ON RWY; C150 LNDD WITH MINOR DMG. TOX CHECK OF C172 PLT'S BLOOD INDCD 118 NG/ML OF DELTA-9-TETRA- HYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID; HIS URINE HAD 1.0 MG/L OF 11-NOR-DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNOBINOL-9-CARBOXYLIC ACID.
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 for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,197 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1989; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: National Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: DWH at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 pm from DWH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 1989; 27 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: DWH at 6:15 pm
- Destination: DWH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
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.