Cessna 152 accident near Gilmer, Texas, December 10, 1990
On December 10, 1990 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68776, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilmer, Texas. It was an aerial observation 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
A POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 1990 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Gilmer, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68776 · no longer on the register · serial 15282370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE MANEUVERING AT 700 FEET MSL WHILE ON A PIPELINE PATROL AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL CARBURETOR HEAT AS HE STARTED TO TURN TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO AN OPEN PASTURE. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ABLE TO CLEAR THE 20 TO 30 FEET TREES ADJACENT TO THE OPEN PASTURE AND THE UNSUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING TERMINATED WITH THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER IMPACTING THE TREES. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE NORMALLY FLEW WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT PARTIALLY OPEN. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT INDUCED THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Barr Air Patrol, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 07F Longview TX at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Observation at 1:46 pm from GGG, 23 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.