ERA25LA225

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150J · Elberta, AL · June 1, 2025

Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary report
Date
June 1, 2025, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Elberta, AL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N150FJCessna 150J
Defining event
Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Investigation ongoing
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
200298

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Preliminary report

What NTSB knew early in the investigation. It may change in the final report.

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.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Aircraft

Registration
N150FJ
Reported as
Cessna 150J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15071001
Built
1969
Airframe hours
8,202
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Johns Randal J
Registered owner
Johns Randal J
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2024 · 14 hours before
Departed
AL55 · Lillian, AL
Destination
4R9 · Dauphin Island, AL
Airport
AL55 · Shields
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft broken
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.02 inHg
Observed at
KCQF, 18 nm away
METAR
KCQF 021715Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM SCT046 BKN080 28/18 A3002 RMK AO2