Cessna 150E accident near Seale, Alabama, April 11, 1985
On April 11, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N3080J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seale, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 11, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seale, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3080J · registry record · serial 15061180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING A SOFT FLD TAKEOFF THE PLT REPORTEDLY APPLIED FULL PWR WITH THE CONTROL YOKE PULLED FULL AFT. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AT APRX 35 KTS WITH THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDING. THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE AND THE PLT OVER CORRECTED ALLOWING THE ACFT TO TRAVEL OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY WHERE THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A WIND SOCK POLE AND THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 507 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,779 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Observation at 3:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 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.