Cessna 150 accident near Norman, Oklahoma, December 12, 1992
On December 12, 1992 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6539L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norman, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE AND POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 1992 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Norman, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6539L · no longer on the register · serial 15284429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THAT COMMENCED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND TERMINATED UNDER DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER. DURING THE LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK ELECTRICAL WIRES AND A TELEPHONE POST. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE LANDING LIGHT, BUT DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE PILOT DID NOT REFUEL AFTER HIS 1ST LEG AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AT THE NEXT 2 LANDING SITES. ENROUTE TO HIS 4TH DESTINATION THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED FOLLOWING APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED, ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE AND NO FUEL SPILLAGE ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT INFORMED THE CONTROL FACILITY THAT HE WAS 10 MILES FROM THE INTENDED LANDING SITE AND A SHORT TIME LATER REPORTED HIS ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND HE WAS OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT WAS NOT USING HIS SHOULDER HARNESS AND HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACIAL AREAS. THE PILOT WAS ISSUED HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE 10 DAYS PRIOR.
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: 82 hours in all; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,748 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADH Ada OK at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from OKC, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N6539L 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.