Cessna 150J accident near Wilsonville, Alabama, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N6866G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilsonville, Alabama (None airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE RISING RUNWAY CONDITIONS, AND THE DEPARTURE END OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Wilsonville, Alabama · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N6866G · no longer on the register · serial 15072366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A HARD, DIRT AIRSTRIP. THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS UPSLOPING, WITH DEPARTURE END OBSTACLES (TREES). OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 93 DEGREES. TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT WAS 1580 POUNDS, OR 20 POUNDS UNDER MAX GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES, SO HE LANDED HARD, STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE USED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR THE TAKEOFF; THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT OBSTACLE CLEARANCE TAKEOFFS ARE TO BE PERFORMED WITH FLAPS UP.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,097 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 3,921 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,809 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1991; 3 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 33, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.