Cessna 172 accident near Florala, Alabama, March 26, 1999
On March 26, 1999 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8968B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florala, Alabama (Florala Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION WITH WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1999 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Florala, Alabama · Florala Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8968B · no longer on the register · serial 36668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane had been parked on the ramp for several days, and it had rained the day before the accident. During the preflight inspection the pilot stated he had taken fuel samples from both fuel tanks and found no water or other contamination. After the preflight examination, the flight departed on runway 04. The pilot turned downwind, and had started a turn to left base when the engine lost power and sputtered. The pilot activated the carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks before returning the fuel selector to both. The engine continued to sputter. While attempting to return to runway 04, the airplane collided with trees approximately 50 feet south of the airport. Examination of the airplane disclosed the presence of water in the fuel tanks.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,526 hours in all; 1,041 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,526 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1999; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J4 AL at 9:27 am
- Destination: 2R4 Milton FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,188 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CEW, 6 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.