Cessna 150H accident near Andalusia, Alabama, June 1, 1987
On June 1, 1987 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andalusia, Alabama (Andalusiaopp airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 1, 1987 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Andalusia, Alabama · Andalusiaopp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22553 · no longer on the register · serial 15068357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO A BEGINNING STUDENT. DURING PREFLIGHT HE NOTED THAT THE LT TANK FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 'FULL' WHILE THE RT TANK GAUGE INIDATED '1/2 FULL '. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES OF FLYING THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER A PRACTICE T&G LDG. THE CFI LANDED THE ACFT, LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH THE STUDENT HOLDING THE BRAKES, AND VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL SUPPLY; HE OBSERVED A FUEL LEVEL ABOUT 'THREE INCHES IN DEPTH' IN BOTH TANKS. AFTER A RUN-UP, ANOTHER TAKEOFF WAS MADE. AT ABOUT 350 FT AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOST POWER ALTOGETHER. A LDG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A FRESHLY-PLOWED FIELD WHERE THE ACFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. SUBSEQUENT CALCULATIONS INDICATED THAT ABOUT 3 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE LAST TAKEOFF, ACCORDING TO THE CFI. TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA FOR THE 150H INDICATES THAT 3.5 GALS OF THE ACFT TOTAL FUEL CAPCITY IS UNUSABLE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,031 hours in all; 590 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 911 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1987; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: M & M Flying Service,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N22553 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.