Cessna 152 accident near Brookwood, Alabama, February 23, 1995
On February 23, 1995 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6470P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookwood, Alabama. 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE, STOP AT THE FIRST DESTINATION TO REFUEL, AND HIS INCORRECT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1995 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Brookwood, Alabama · 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
- N6470P · no longer on the register · serial 15285020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO LAND AT AN INTERVENING DESTINATION, WALKER COUNTY AIRPORT TO REFUEL. HOWEVER, HE BELIEVED HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE HIS DESTINATION, SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT. UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. A LANDING APPROACH WAS MADE TO THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT SAW THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE FIELD AND ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE ROOF OF A HOUSE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL. A SALVAGE COMPANY RETRIEVED THE WRECKAGE FROM THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE AND DRAINED THE FUEL FROM THE AIRCRAFT. FUEL DRAINED PARTIALLY FILLED A TWO GALLON CONTAINER. IN A POST-ACCIDENT INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE.
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: 28 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Astron Enterprises, INC
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 21A Shelby County AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:06 pm from 2A3, 30 miles away
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.