Cessna 150J accident near Elberta, Alabama, June 1, 2025
On June 1, 2025 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 150J, registered N150FJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Elberta, Alabama (Shields airport). It was a personal 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2025 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elberta, Alabama · Shields · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J, built 1969 · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N150FJ · registry record · serial 15071001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 1, 2025, at about 1200 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N150FJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Elberta, Alabama. The pilot and the pilot- rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilots were flying from Shields Airport (AL55), in Lillian, ALAlabama. (AL55) to Jeremiah Denton Airport (4R9), Dauphin Island, AL. Airport (4R9)Alabama to have lunch. A few minutes after takeoff during the initial climb, the engine suddenly started running rough and engine RPM rpm reduced to approximately1,400 RPM. The pilot-rated passenger, who was a flight instructor, who was not flying at the time, took the controls and carburetor heat was applied with no effect on the engine’s performance. They attempted to land at Perdido Winds Airpark (AL08), Elberta, Alabama, ; but however, they were too high on the approach and opted to attempt a forced landing in a field to the west. As they turned base for their approach to the field, the engine experienced a total loss of powerlost all power. During the approach to the field, they noticed that there was a barbed wire fence running through the field, but landing was already assured, so they elected to continue with the landing. After touching down, they struck the fence, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. The wreckage was retained for further 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,202 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2024; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: AL55 Lillian AL at 4:50 pm
- Destination: 4R9 Dauphin Island AL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from KCQF, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCQF 021715Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM SCT046 BKN080 28/18 A3002 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA25LA225.