Cessna 120 accident near Atmore, Alabama, February 11, 1990
On February 11, 1990 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N90093, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atmore, Alabama (Atmore Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1990 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Atmore, Alabama · Atmore Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N90093 · no longer on the register · serial 9154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (IN THE RIGHT SEAT) NOTED THAT THE SELECTED FUEL TANK HAD A LOW LEVEL OF FUEL. HE INSTRUCTED HIS SON (A STUDENT PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT) TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK. THE SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO AN EMPTY TANK & THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A CORN 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1989; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATM at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,925 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.