Cessna 150 accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, November 20, 1996
On November 20, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N2428J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama (Kiwi Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate maintenance/inspection of the aircraft engine, which allowed continued use of a deteriorated ignition harness and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Shores, Alabama · Kiwi Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N2428J · registry record · serial 15065528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the engine lost power. The aircraft would not maintain altitude, and while the pilot was attempting to make a forced landing in a field, the aircraft collided with brush and trees. During postcrash testing, the engine would not operate above 2,400 rpm, and power output deteriorated further as the engine continued to run. The left ignition harness was deteriorated and had cracks in the insulation. The left ignition harness was replaced, and the engine operated normally. The engine received a annual inspection on May 27, 1996, 43 flight hours before the accident.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 695 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1996; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,464 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:31 pm from BFM, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 MIA97LA026.