Cessna 152 accident near Mobile, Alabama, February 7, 1995
On February 7, 1995 at about 9:23 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757XX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mobile, Alabama. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION BEFORE REACHING THE AIRPORT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1995 · about 9:23 pm local time
- Place
- Mobile, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757XX · no longer on the register · serial 15280096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT, HE TRANSMITTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER. AT THAT TIME, HE WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LAND 'JUST BELOW.' A WITNESS HEARD THE POWER INTERRUPTIONS AND SAW THE AIRPLANE CIRCLE AN AREA WITH A DIRT PIT, LANDFILL, AND ROADWAY. A WITNESS IN A VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AT LOW ALTITUDE (ESTIMATED 75 TO 100 FEET AGL). HE OBSERVED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED IN A NOSE AND RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE, BEFORE IT CRASHED. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE, HE NOTED OIL DRAINING FROM THE AIRPLANE, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY FUEL LEAKAGE, THOUGH NUMEROUS FUEL LINES WERE SEVERED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION AND 1.3 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, 1.5 GAL OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS UNUSABLE. RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 3.5 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 778 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 154 in the last 30 days; 675 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,302 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 28, 1994; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:33 pm from MOB, 4 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.
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.