Cessna 172D accident near Alabaster, Alabama, September 25, 1994
On September 25, 1994 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2830U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alabaster, Alabama (Shelby County 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 FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUMP THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1994 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Alabaster, Alabama · Shelby County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2830U · no longer on the register · serial 17250430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED THROUGH 100 FEET, THE PILOT WATCHED THE ENGINE RPM DROP FROM 2360 TO 1700. AFTER ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED, THE PILOT LOWERED FULL FLAPS AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED INVERTED. DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION, WATER WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY THROUGH ALL POWER RANGES DURING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE POSITION OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE RAMP PREVENTED HIM FROM SUMPING THE FUEL SYSTEM PROPERLY.
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: 1,120 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1994; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21A at 7:05 pm
- Destination: 21A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BHM, 15 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.