Cessna 150H accident near Hilltop Lakes, Texas, September 6, 1998
On September 6, 1998 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22799, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilltop Lakes, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff. Factors were the pilot's lack of experience in grass field operations, the unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and the pilot's failure to perform a soft field takeoff procedure more suitable for the terrain [high grass].
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1998 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hilltop Lakes, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22799 · no longer on the register · serial 15068524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost control of the airplane while trying to 'abort' on the initial takeoff climb during his third attempt to takeoff from an unimproved grass field. The first two attempts were aborted due to lack of acceleration of the aircraft through tall grass. The airplane impacted the ground with the right wing followed by the nose of the aircraft and then rolled inverted. The pilot's grass field experience consisted of 6 takeoff and landings during his private pilot training.
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: 103 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1998; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 3:45 pm
- Destination: EYQ Weiser TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.