Cessna 150M accident near Seguin, Texas, November 11, 1994
On November 11, 1994 at about 3:40 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9237U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seguin, Texas. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE AFTER TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1994 · about 3:40 am local time
- Place
- Seguin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9237U · no longer on the register · serial 150-78187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF INTO DARK NIGHT VMC, 'THE ENGINE BEGAN A SERIES OF SURGES AND BEGAN TO LOSE AIRSPEED.' WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID OBSTACLES, THE AIRPLANE MAINTAINED LEVEL FLIGHT AND EXECUTED LEVEL TURNS. AS THE PILOT 'PULLED UP SHARPLY' TO AVOID POWER LINES, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WIRES WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. AFTER STRIKING THE WIRES, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND THEN DESCENDED TO THE GROUND ABOUT 150-200 FEET PAST THE POLE. BOTH THE LEFT FRONT CYLINDER FIN AND SPINNER CONE DISPLAYED CYLINDRICAL CRUSHING. A TELEPHONE POLE WAS FOUND SHEARED OFF APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET FROM THE TOP. ENGINE EXAMINATION AND TEARDOWN DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S DIAGRAM, THE AIRPLANE WAS EITHER IN LEVEL FLIGHT OR BANKING TO AVOID OBSTACLES FOR APRX 0.6 MILES PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO STRIKING WIRES.
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: 287 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,072 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1994; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (42) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from SAT, 25 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.