Bessemer Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bessemer, Alabama 35021
Friday, January 1, 1993 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A TAKEOFF WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE WITH A 70 DEGREE LEFT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS USING RUNWAY 5 & THAT THE AIRPORT AWOS LISTED THE WIND AS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 4 TO 6 KTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT AS THE TAIL CAME UP THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE VEERED A LITTLE TO THE LEFT AND ADDITIONAL RIGHT RUDDER WAS APPLIED. ACCORDING TO HER, AT THAT TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK BY A GUST & IT WEATHERVANED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY RIGHT SIDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKE OFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/1/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BESSEMER
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35021
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BESSEMER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2A3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 699
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID BHM
Elevation of weather observation facility 644
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 450
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 4 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50281
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4292N
NTSB Number ATL93LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 120
Aircraft Series Identifier 120
Aircraft Serial Number 13763
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 Mar 18 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 6172
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WOOD, DAVID E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 81
Aircraft Owner City BESSEMER
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35021
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WOOD, DAVID E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 81
Operator City BESSEMER
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35021
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2A3
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 2A3
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 5700
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --