Cessna 175A accident near Foley, Alabama, October 22, 2008
On October 22, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N7919T, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Foley, Alabama (Foley Municipal Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb, resulting in a stall and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Foley, Alabama · Foley Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N7919T · no longer on the register · serial 56619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a run-up and magneto check before attempting to take off with full power. The airplane rose about 30 feet on takeoff, stalled, and then impacted the runway. The pilot, who last received a medical certificate on May 13, 1972, and reported no flight time on his medical application, was attempting to fly an airplane that was 4 years out of annual inspection and had been tied down for the last 3 years outside. Attempts to obtain information from the pilot were unsuccessful. The owner stated that the pilot was also a mechanic and obtained a ferry permit for the flight. However, the Federal Aviation Administration found no record of a request or issuance of a ferry permit. In addition, no preimpact damage to or failures of the engine or airframe were identified during on-scene examination.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5R4 Foley AL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: JFX Jasper AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from JKA, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.