Cessna 152 accident near Dothan, Alabama, September 30, 1990
On September 30, 1990 at about 3:08 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dothan, Alabama (Dothan airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USAGE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, PRESENCE OF CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1990 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Dothan, Alabama · Dothan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49553 · no longer on the register · serial 15283475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. WHEN CLEARED FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE (RUNWAY 13), HE ERRONEOUSLY TURNED ONTO RUNWAY 31 AND STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF 060 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, AND THE APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, HE ATTEMPTED OF LIFT OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DHN Dothan AL at 3:08 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 8,498 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:17 pm from DHN
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.