Cessna 152 accident near Ozark, Alabama, May 8, 1985
On May 8, 1985 at about 1:36 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6097M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Alabama. It was an instructional 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 8, 1985 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- Ozark, Alabama · 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
- N6097M · registry record · serial 152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM OZARK, AL TO COLUMBIA, SC & RETURN. HE USED 22 GAL OF FUEL EN ROUTE TO COLUMBIA. BEFORE RETURNING, HE REFUELED THE ACFT TO ITS FULL CAPACITY OF 24.5 USABLE GALS. HOWEVER, ON THE RETURN FLT, HE ENCOUNTERED HEADWINDS, DID NOT LEAN HIS MIXTURE & WAS VECTORED AROUND THUNDERSTORMS. BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT KNOCKED DOWN A POWER LINE & DAMAGED AN OAT CROP.
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: 158 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1984; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alabama Aviation & Techn.Col.
The flight
- Departed from: CAE Columbia SC at 9:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.