Cessna 150L accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, February 10, 1990
On February 10, 1990 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1272Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona. 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 MISCALCULATION OF THE FUEL REMAINING, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1990 · about 8:35 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1272Q · registry record · serial 15072572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT RAN OUT OF GAS 10 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION. THE PILOT DEPARTED HIS LAST STOP WITH LESS THAN 1/4 FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. HE BELIEVED HE HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT AND OVERFLEW AN AIRSTRIP WHEN HE BEGAN HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT REPORTED STRONG, GUSTY HEADWINDS FOR THE FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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: 34 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Braun Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: P20 Parker AZ at 7:33 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1272Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 150 7,992 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-200-A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Avi Suquilla Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,435 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX90LA086.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.