Cessna 152 accident near Zavalla, Texas, September 1, 1997
On September 1, 1997, a Cessna 152, registered N89268, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zavalla, Texas. It was an instructional 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 improper planning/decision, becoming lost/disoriented during the flight, and selection of unsuitable terrain for an emergency/precautionary landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the hazy weather condition, and rough terrain in the precautionary landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1997
- Place
- Zavalla, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89268 · no longer on the register · serial 152-82693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot departed Lufkin, Texas on an instructional solo cross-country flight to Tyler, Texas. The student reported that 'heavy' haze and surrounding storms limited the visibility, and she became disorientated. She estimated that one hour and thirty minutes elapsed before she located an airport. After landing, she learned that she was at the Houston County Airport, Crockett, Texas, but no fuel service was available. Without checking the weather, the student planned a return course and heading to Lufkin. After the flight departed, she deviated from her planned course due to weather. The student reported that she did not calculate new headings or plot the deviation, and consequently, she became disorientated. The student reported that due to a low fuel situation, a precautionary landing was made. Also, she reported that while making a precautionary landing in a grass field, near Zavalla, Texas, the nose gear contacted 'abrupt terrain,' and the airplane came to rest inverted.
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: 58 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,134 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 23, 1997; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tyler Intl School Of Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: T56 Crockett TX at 10:35 pm
- Destination: LFK Lufkin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 90°F (32°C)
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.