N150CRCessna 150E · 1965

On August 15, 2019, about 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 150E airplane, N150CR, impacted rough terrain and nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rio Grande City, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial empennage and aft fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Mid Valley Airport, near Weslaco, Texas, about 1635 and was destined for a private airstrip, near Roma, Texas.

According to information from the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to relocate the airplane to the owner's ranch. The flight was uneventful until about 20 minutes into the flight when the oil temperature gauge indicated a red line reading. The pilot reduced engine power, applied full rich mixture, and reduced airplane pitch, in an attempt to reduce the oil temperature. The airplane was midway between the destination and the nearest airport, and the pilot elected to continue to the destination. The engine started to run rough and then lost all power. The terrain was hilly and covered with trees. The pilot landed the airplane on an open area where it impacted a rock pile and subsequently nosed over.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector was asked to examine the wreckage. He, in part, reported that the airplane was cut up, put on a trailer, and throw in a junk pile on a ranch before the accident was reported. The engine was still cowled and upside down. He additionally reported that there was nothing identified which would have caused the overheat or the loss of engine power.