NTSB Factual Report

On May 19, 2001, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N2808S, collided with trees and burst into flames during climb out from Jim Still Airpark near Pell City, Alabama. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and his passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed by fire. The flight departed Pell City, Alabama, at 0858.

The pilot stated they had visited a resident at the Jim Still Airpark with several other airplanes and were planning to return to Pell City. Reportedly, the windsock was 'limp", although the pilot had received an earlier briefing that indicated winds were out of the southwest. The pilot and passenger were the third airplane to depart in an easterly direction on runway 09. Shortly after liftoff from the private airstrip, as the airplane climbed above the trees, the pilot stated the airspeed decreased and the airplane began to sink The airplane collided with trees approximately 1000 feet from the department end of runway 09. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane, it burst into flames.

Examination of the airplane's performance data revealed a minimum required takeoff distance of 1585 feet to clear a 50 foot obstacle, under no wind conditions. The runway was 2200 feet long with trees on each end. Runway surface conditions were reported as damp grass at the time of the accident The observed weather conditions at Birmingham International Airport at 0853 central daylight time reported winds from 220 degrees at 11 knots. Density altitude was approximately 1700 feet. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. No mechanical malfunction was found during examination of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of the wrong runway that resulted in an attempted takeoff with a tailwind.