Cessna 172P accident near Alexander City, Alabama, February 1, 1986
On February 1, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52238, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander City, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were 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
- February 1, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alexander City, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52238 · no longer on the register · serial 172-74451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING FROM AN UMIMPROVED PASTURE. THE SECOND TAKEOFF ATTEMPTED WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ACFT. THERE WERE THREE PASSENGERS ONBOARD FOR THIS LAST TAKEOFF ATTEMPT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 857 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1985; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: New Site AL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from MGM, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.