Cessna 150G accident near Luverne, Alabama, September 22, 1988
On September 22, 1988 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3772J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Luverne, Alabama (Sikes airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- September 22, 1988 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Luverne, Alabama · Sikes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3772J · no longer on the register · serial 15065072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING AT ABOUT 7-800 FT AGL WHILE INSPECTING TIMBER FOR INSECT DAMAGE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. HE COULD NOT RECOVER ENOUGH POWER TO SUSTAIN FLT, SO HE SELECTED A PASTURE FOR HIS IMPENDING FORCED LDG. HE REPORTED THAT THE FIELD WAS ROUGH AND JUST BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STOPPED ON ITS LDG ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLIDED WITH A FIRE ANT HILL AND COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE MECHANIC WHO RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE STATED THAT HE DID NOT FIND FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE AND THAT THE PASTURE WAS SUITABLE LANDING SITE. HE REPORTED THAT THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN IN A SKID. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO FIRE ANT HILLS IN THE FIELD.
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: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,404 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,225 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,657 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOI Troy AL at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MGM, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.