Cessna 150L accident near Navasota, Texas, June 16, 1993
On June 16, 1993 at about 4:13 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11069, was substantially damaged in an accident near Navasota, Texas. 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
PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO LEFT MAGNETO FLUCTUATING DUE TO LOOSE COIL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1993 · about 4:13 pm local time
- Place
- Navasota, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11069 · no longer on the register · serial 15075196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH REPORTED HAZE, THE STUDENT PILOT HAD DESCENDED TO 2,000 FEET MSL TO REMAIN BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A FENCE, AND FENCE POST, AND CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS NOT FIRING AT TIMES AND OTHER TIMES WOULD FIRE IN A RANDOM SEQUENCE. AN INTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT MAGNETO REVEALED THAT THE COILS WERE LOOSE
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
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Spring TX at 3:50 pm
- Destination: CLL College Station TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from CLL, 302 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.