Cessna 152 accident near Lacey Springs, Alabama, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6231B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lacey Springs, Alabama (South Huntsville airport). It was a personal 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 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 20, 1984 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lacey Springs, Alabama · South Huntsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6231B · registry record · serial 152893910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT WAS ARRIVING AT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT, NO UNICOM WAS AVAILABLE, SINCE THE OFFICE WAS CLOSED. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 24 AFTER SEEING ANOTHER ACFT DEPART. THE 1ST APCH WAS ABORTED DUE TO GUSTY WINDS. AFTER THE 2ND APCH, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/3 DOWN THE RWY. THE PLT SAID THAT THE WIND BLEW THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR DROPPED OFF THE HARD SURFACE & THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HOWEVER, THE NOSEWHEEL ALSO WENT OFF THE HARD SURFACE. IT BECAME BURIED IN SOFT MUD & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 64 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 19, 1983; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Underwood Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: M82 Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,245 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from HSV, 10 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N6231B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.