Cessna 150M accident near Pinson, Alabama, January 31, 1987
On January 31, 1987 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704FT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pinson, Alabama (Turkey Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- January 31, 1987 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Pinson, Alabama · Turkey Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704FT · no longer on the register · serial 15078582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INTIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT AND RESTARTED MORE THAN ONCE. THE ACFT WAS TURNED BACK TOWARD THE DEPARTURE RWY. DURING THE TURN, THE WING STRUCK A TREE, CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED LOW COMPRESSION ON THE #4 CYLINDER AND ARCING OF THE #4 SPARK PLUG LEAD. THE PLT HAD NOT HAD A BFR SINCE RECEIVING PVT CERTIFICATION 31 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVERDUE FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: 176 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,594 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1985; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BHM, 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.
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.