Cessna 152 accident near Piedmont, Alabama, May 24, 1984
On May 24, 1984 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48767, was substantially damaged in an accident near Piedmont, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1984 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Piedmont, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48767 · no longer on the register · serial 15280960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO FLYING, HE HAD 2 MIXED DRINKS WHICH CONTAINED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT TALLEDEGA, AL. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO ANNISTON, AL, WHERE HE LANDED. FROM THERE HE FLEW TO JACKSONVILLE & CENTRE, WHERE HE MADE TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS, THEN PROCEEDED ON THE FLT. ABOUT 10 MI WEST OF PIEDMONT, AL, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES. THE ACFT REMAINED SUSPENDED IN THE LINES, BUT THE PLT FELL TO THE GROUND. A WITNESS IN AN AUTO OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING BEHIND HIM AT 100 TO 150 FT AGL AS HE (THE WITNESS) WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD. AS THE WITNESS ENTERED A SERIES OF TURNS, THE ACFT FLEW PAST HIM & INTO THE POWER LINES. THE PLT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE HE GAVE PERMISSION FOR A BLOOD SAMPLE. A CHECK OF HIS BLOOD REVEALED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.102% (102 MG%).
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: 414 hours in all; 414 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,789 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1984; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anniston AL at 7:26 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ANB
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.
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.