Cessna 150F accident near Floresville, Texas, March 24, 1991
On March 24, 1991 at about 4:51 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N383VU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Floresville, Texas (John Connolly airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO A JAMMED VALVE, INCORRECT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1991 · about 4:51 pm local time
- Place
- Floresville, Texas · John Connolly · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N383VU · no longer on the register · serial 15063968
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DAY CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT BEGAN AN APPROVED DESCENT FOR AN APPROACH TO SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER DUE TO A STUCK VALVE IN THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER STUDENT PILOT WAS VECTORED TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, HOWEVER, SHE COULD NOT EXTEND THE GLIDE FAR ENOUGH TO REACH THE AIRSTRIP DUE TO A TAIL WIND ON HER SELECTED FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND FENCE DURING THE LANDING CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO PITCH OVER INVERTED. SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT AND THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE OF A POWER LOSS DURING A PREVIOUS TAKEOFF. THERE WERE 2 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WHERE THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE STUCK IN THE HALF OPEN POSITION.
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: 59 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,994 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1990; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airpline Pilot Institute INC
The flight
- Departed from: CRP Corpus Christi TX at 3:45 pm
- Destination: SAT San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 4,050 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from SAT, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.