Cessna 150L accident near Arlington, Texas, February 14, 1990
On February 14, 1990 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N21969, was destroyed in an accident near Arlington, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT AFTER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, HIS DECISION TO MAKE LOW PASSES AT NIGHT (BUZZING), FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE, AND DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1990 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Arlington, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N21969 · registry record · serial 15074577
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS AT NIGHT OVER A BAR WHERE HE & HIS PASSENGER HAD BEEN EARLIER IN THE EVENING. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE BEGAN A SECOND PASS & WAS DEMONSTRATING HOW THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED COULD BE CONTROLLED BY PITCH, WHEN HE BECAME PREOCCUPPIED WITH THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A 45 FT TREE, THEN SEVERAL VEHICLES. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD CONSUMED 4 BEERS DURING A 4 HR PERIOD BEFORE THE FLIGHT. HE REFUSED A TOXICOLOGY TEST, BUT LOCAL POLICE GAVE HIM A FIELD SOBRIETY (EYE GAZE NYSTAGMUS) TEST. THE TEST INDICATED THE PILOT WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.
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: 312 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 257 as pilot in command
- 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: Arlington TX at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from DFW, 15 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.