Cessna 150J accident near Baker Hill, Alabama, August 1, 1990
On August 1, 1990 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N60518, was destroyed in an accident near Baker Hill, Alabama. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS WERE AIRSPEED NOT MAINTAINED, ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR SAFE RECOVERY, AND ATTENTION DIVERTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1990 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Baker Hill, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N60518 · no longer on the register · serial 15070368
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL OBSERVATION AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN A RENTAL AIRPLANE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE MARIJUANA CROPS. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND IN AN OPEN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PREEXISTING FAILURES. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE GROUND HAD HEARD THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT LOW LEVEL.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUF Eufaula AL at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DHN, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N60518 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.