Cessna 150M accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 29, 1996
On August 29, 1996 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9253U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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
the student pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and subsequent fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Factors relating to the accident were: the student's lack of experience in this make and model of aircraft, darkness, and lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1996 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9253U · no longer on the register · serial 15078203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had approximately 85 hours of flight training in another make/model of aircraft before he started training in the Cessna 150. On the morning of the accident, he had received his first one hour dual flight lesson in N9253U. After that, he flew solo in another Cessna 150, then at about 1930, he took off on another flight in N9253U. While returning to the airport after dark, the engine lost power. As the student was forced to land at night, he saw trees and maneuvered to avoid a collision, then was forced to land in a small lake. After the accident, no fuel was found in the airplane. Investigation revealed, the airplane had flown about 3.5 hours, since it was last refueled. During that time, the student had been performing flight maneuvers and practice landings. According to some experience flight instructors, fuel consumption for that type of flying could be as high as 7 to 8 gallons per hour. The airplane had a usable fuel capacity of 22.5 gallons.
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: 87 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1996; 10 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: PWA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from PWA, 12 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.