Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trinity, Alabama 35672
Saturday, February 1, 1997 9:21 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A few minutes after takeoff, the airplane was next seen flying in the vicinity of the accident site. One eyewitness stated that when the airplane first flew overhead, it was just above the tree tops. Another eyewitness observed the airplane as the pilot made several low passes. On the last low pass, the pilot initiated a steep climb which terminated in what was described as a 'hammerhead stall.' The airplane entered a spin, descended from about 500 feet, and crashed adjacent to a single family dwelling, hitting a tree and utility line as it descended to the ground. All aircraft components were located in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. Subsequent examination of the engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Examination of the airframe and aircraft systems also failed to disclose a mechanical problem.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain flying airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with a tree, utility line, and the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/1/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 921
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TRINITY
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35672
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 858 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID HSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 352
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 1 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50TB
NTSB Number ATL97FA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model A150L
Aircraft Series Identifier A150L
Aircraft Serial Number A150-3376
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 2526
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DECATUR ATHENS AERO SERVICES
Aircraft Owner Street Address POB 502
Aircraft Owner City ATHENS
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35612
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BILLY D. PARKER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address POB 642
Operator City TOWNCREEK
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35672
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 DCU
Departure City DECATUR
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 855
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --