Craig Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selma, Alabama 36701
Monday, December 30, 1996 15:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had elected to divert to Selma, Alabama after realizing his instrument charts were in the wing locker. While approximately 15 feet over the runway in a flared attitude, the pilot's seat back failed, leading him to lose control of the airplane and land hard. Subsequent examination of the seat showed it was incorrectly repaired and reassembled by a maintenance person, resulting in its eventual partial overload failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of maintenance personnel to correctly repair and install the pilot's seat.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SELMA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36701
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CRAIG FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation 166
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 221
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1662
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7561Q
NTSB Number ATL97LA031
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 310Q
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q0532
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2836
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUMMIT EQUITY MANAGEMENT, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3603 BERNAY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NORTHBROOK
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60062
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAUL ZADIK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MGM
Departure City MONTGOMERY
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1M1
Destination City LITTLE ROCK
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 8002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --