Cessna 150J accident near Tomball, Texas, February 28, 1990
On February 28, 1990 at about 1:26 am local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51402, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tomball, Texas (David Wayne Hooks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE SOFT/WET TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1990 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- Tomball, Texas · David Wayne Hooks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51402 · no longer on the register · serial 15069983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION ON AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND AFTER A TWO LEG CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, WHICH LASTED 2.9 HOURS. THE SECOND PILOT EXECUTED A NIGHT FORCED LANDING AS HE HAD MORE TOTAL TIME THAN THE PIC. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SOFT/WET TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR PARTIALLY COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RENTAL AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 1 FLIGHT OF 0.7 HRS BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT TRIP AND HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED ON ITS RETURN. THE PIC HAD BASED HER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS ON A RATE OF 4.6 GPH INSTEAD OF THE 6.4 GPH THAT RECORDS INDICATED WAS THE CORRECT CONSUMPTION RATE.
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: 55 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ 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
- Operator: Merriworth Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: T97 Port Lavaca TX
- Destination: DWH Tomball TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from DWH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N51402 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.