Cessna 150M accident near Matagorda, Texas, October 22, 1991
On October 22, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9293U, was destroyed in an accident near Matagorda, Texas. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Matagorda, 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
- N9293U · no longer on the register · serial 15078243
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING DOWN THE GULF COAST, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON THE BEACH. HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE DECIDED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN A GOOD IDEA AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. BY THAT TIME, HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WAS STUCK IN THE WET SAND. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT TO AN AREA WHERE THE SAND APPEARED TO BE HARD PACKED. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF USING 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, IT STALLED, VEERED RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WING TIP IMPACTED THE SAND. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY ROTATED AROUND THE RIGHT WING AND THE NOSE IMPACTED THE BEACH.
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: 102 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
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
- Destination: ELE Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.