Cessna 150F accident near Russellville, Alabama, July 15, 1995
On July 15, 1995 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8085F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Russellville, 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1995 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Russellville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8085F · no longer on the register · serial 15064185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED. HE ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH FLIGHT SERVICE, AND REPORTED THAT HE HAD LESS THAN ONE FOURTH OF A TANK OF FUEL. FOUR MINUTES AFTER ESTABLISHING RADIO CONTACT, THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. HE THEN SELECTED A FIELD AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH A BERM. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT LOG, HE FLEW FIVE HOURS WITHOUT AN EN ROUTE REFUELING STOP. THE NORMAL FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRPLANE IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS.
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: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,949 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A5 Lafayette GA at 11:45 am
- Destination: MSL Muscle Shoals AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from MSL, 18 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.