Cessna 150M accident near Kerrville, Texas, August 25, 1990
On August 25, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704XJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kerrville, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT BECOMING LOST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kerrville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704XJ · no longer on the register · serial 15078953
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR A SCHEDULED SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT LANDED AT A PRIVATE STRIP AND PICKED UP A PASSENGER. EN ROUTE TO THE NEXT AIRPORT, HE GOT LOST AND LANDED AT ANOTHER AIRPORT. HE DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. AFTER DEPARTING, HE GOT LOST AGAIN AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE FINALLY GOT 6 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A BALLPARK, THE AIRPLANE RAN INTO A FENCE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 2, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T28 Lampasas TX
- Destination: ERV Kerrville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from ERV, 6 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.