Cessna 150 accident near Elba, Alabama, July 11, 2021
On July 11, 2021 at about 1:10 am local time, a 1965 Cessna 150, registered N8172S, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Elba, Alabama (Carl Folsom Airport). It was an instructional 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 partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in reduced climb capability and impact with trees during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2021 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Elba, Alabama · Carl Folsom Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 F, built 1965 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8172S · no longer on the register · serial 15061772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After performing flight training maneuvers for about 30 minutes, the instructor and student returned to the airport to practice short/soft field takeoffs and landings. After the first full-stop landing, the flight instructor recalled applying carburetor heat during the landing and taxi back for the next takeoff. During the student’s subsequent short field takeoff, the airspeed did not increase as expected while in ground effect and the instructor asked the student why he was not climbing. The student replied that he didn’t know and relinquished the controls to the instructor. The instructor determined that the engine was not producing enough power to maintain level flight and that they were too low to troubleshoot. As the airplane descended and the airspeed decreased, she lowered the nose and made a forced landing into trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident the flight instructor stated she thought the cause was carburetor ice. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at glide power, and carburetor ice likely accumulated during the approach and previous landing. Although the instructor recalled applying carburetor heat during taxi there may not have been sufficient time to melt all or any accumulated carburetor ice.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,330 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 278 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 6, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,666.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2021; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 4,667 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,050 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from SXS, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSXS 110058Z AUTO 24003KT 9SM CLR 24/22 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02400219
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements (Nstructor and Student) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation_instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation_salvage Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array_accident Site and Airplane Damage | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Carb Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.