Preliminary information
On July 20, 2026, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pell City, Alabama. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
According to the instructor they departed St. Clair County Airport (KPLR), Pell City, Alabama, with full fuel tanks for a training flight. About four minutes after departure about 1,500 to 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost all power and the instructor performed a forced landing to a field. After landing the airplane continued through a fence and the left wing impacted a tree.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the scene the left fuel tank was ruptured. The airplane was recovered and an engine test run was performed. The engine did not run smoothly, and the throttle had to be pumped to keep the engine running.
The engine was shut down and secured for further examination.
Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for ANC26LA075 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 20, 2026
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama
- Nearest airport
- (PLR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N103UC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.