Cessna 150K accident near Victoria, Texas, September 16, 1995
On September 16, 1995 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5DT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victoria, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1995 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Victoria, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5DT · registry record · serial 15071977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HIS 'FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL' ON THE CROSS COUNTRY TRIP FROM FRANKSTON, TEXAS, TO VICTORIA, TEXAS. HE LANDED SHORT OF VICTORIA AT HALLETSVILLE AND PERFORMED A 'VISUAL' CHECK OF THE TANKS WHICH SHOWED 'ONE QUARTER IN EACH TANK.' THE HALLETSVILLE AIRPORT 'WAS DESERTED' AND HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON TO VICTORIA WITHOUT REFUELING. WHILE ON BASE LEG FOR LANDING AT VICTORIA, THE PILOT MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN FOR SPACING. UPON COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A WATER-FILLED RICE FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE AIRPLANE, 'ONE QUARTER IN EACH TANK' EQUATES TO A TOTAL OF 3 GALLONS USABLE FUEL. CALCULATIONS BASED ON THE MANUFACTURER'S PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATED THE 25 MINUTE FLIGHT FROM HALLETSVILLE TO VICTORIA REQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 3 GALLONS OF FUEL.
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: 307 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1995; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34R Halletsville TX at 6:20 pm
- Destination: VCT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.