Reims Aviation CESSNA FA 150K accident near Willis, Texas, June 13, 1993
On June 13, 1993 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Reims Aviation CESSNA FA 150K, registered N922SZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willis, 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
LOSS OF PARTIAL ENGINE POWER DUE TO STUCK EXHAUST VALVE AND EXHAUST AND INTAKE VALVE BINDING WITH CARBON BUILDUP. A FACTOR WAS THE 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
- June 13, 1993 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Willis, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Reims Aviation CESSNA FA 150K CESSNA FA
- Registration
- N922SZ · no longer on the register · serial 0047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A PARTIAL POWER LOSS, THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING AT A RATE OF 50 FEET PER MINUTE. THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN WAS COVERED BY WOODLANDS AND NUMEROUS TRAFFIC WAS ALONG THE AVAILABLE ROADWAYS. DURING THE FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO A FIELD, A FENCE WAS OBSERVED ALONG THE LANDING ROLL PATHWAY. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN GEAR DUG INTO THE WET TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 2.6 HOURS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE STUCK. THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE AND THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE WERE TIGHT AND CARBON BUILDUP WAS NOTED ON THE VALVE STEMS
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
- Flight time: 866 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 765 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 5:40 pm
- Destination: DWH Tomball TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from IAH, 40 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.
Other NTSB records under N922SZ 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.