Cessna 150G accident near Selma, Alabama, August 11, 1985
On August 11, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4608X, was destroyed in an accident near Selma, Alabama (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 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
- August 11, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Selma, Alabama · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4608X · no longer on the register · serial 15064658
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT TOOK OFF FROM SOD STRIP ON HOT HUMID DAY NEAR MAX WEIGHT. PIC SAID HE USED 10 DEGREES FLAPS AND WAS AIRBORNE. AT ABOUT RUNWAY MID POINT. WHEN OVER FIRST TREE LINE AFTER PASSING THRESHOLD ACFT DESCENDED. WHEN OVER BROWN TERRAIN ACFT CLIMBED. WHEN OVER TREES IT DESCENDED. ACFT LANDING GEAR DRAGGED THROUGH NEXT TREE LINE WITH LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ACTUATION OF STALL WARNING HORN. ACFT MUSHED INTO TALL TREE THEN FELL TO GROUND NOSE FIRST. FLAP ACTUATOR JACKSCREW FOUND IN POSITION WHICH CORRESPONDED TO 16 DEGREE FLAP EXTENSION.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2,340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MGM, 35 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.