Prairie Aire Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Needville, Texas 77461
Friday, January 27, 1995 17:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude after an in-flight loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude following a low-level pass over a private airstrip. One witness described seeing the airplane pull up vertically to about 250-300 feet above ground level before pivoting about its center of gravity and descending vertically. Other witnesses described a similar maneuver. The pilot-flying at the time of the accident could not be determined. Examination of the airplane and the engine did not reveal any structural or mechanical anomalies. Impact was near vertical and the wreckage was found in the initial ground scar.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control at an altitude insufficient for recovery after one of the two pilots on board attempted an aerobatic maneuver.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/27/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City NEEDVILLE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77461
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport PRAIRIE AIRE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 40
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 184
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2024
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2004 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1493Q
NTSB Number FTW95FA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15072793
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 30 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 4217
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK GRACE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 LOIS LANE
Aircraft Owner City BROWNSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78521
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PSX
Departure City PALACIOS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2004 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --