Cessna 150L accident near Leesville, Louisiana, August 6, 1990
On August 6, 1990 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10472, was destroyed in an accident near Leesville, Louisiana (Leesville airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VS WHILE MANEUVERING AND THE FACT THAT ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY FROM THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1990 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Leesville, Louisiana · Leesville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10472 · no longer on the register · serial 15074872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE OWNER OF A LOST RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL AIRPLANE WERE ON AN AERIAL SEARCH FOR THE MODEL. A PERSON ON THE GROUND WAS TO ENTER THE WOODS AND SEARCH THE AREA UNDER WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS CIRCLING. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH, MADE A LEFT TURN TOWARD THE SOUTH PART OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED AT LOW ALTITUDE, IN A STEEP LEFT BANK JUST BEFORE IT WENT NOSEDOWN TO THE TERRAIN, WHERE IT STARTED TO BURN AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 262 hours in all; 204 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,563 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 27, 1990; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: LA24
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from POE, 10 miles away
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.