Cessna 150G accident near Pell City, Alabama, May 19, 2001
On May 19, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N2808S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama (Jim Still Airpark airport). 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 selection of the wrong runway that resulted in an attempted takeoff with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · Jim Still Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2808S · registry record · serial 15066708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were the third aircraft to depart runway 09 heading east. After liftoff, and climbing above the trees, the airspeed decreased and the airplane began to sink. The airplane collided with trees and burst into flames. No mechanical malfunction was found during examination of the airplane. The review of weather data showed that the takeoff was attempted with a 11 knot tailwind.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Odenville AL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PLR Pell City AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,200 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from BHM, 18 miles away
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.