Epps Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harvest, Alabama 35749
Wednesday, July 28, 1993 9:52 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A LANDING AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRFIELD. HE STATED THAT, AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE AND HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING AND GO-AROUND. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH WAS SO HIGH AND STEEP, THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO MAKE A LOW PASS AND CIRCLE TO LAND. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT LAND ON THE LAST 1/3 OF THE GRASS RUNWAY, SAW THE TIRES SKID ON THE GRASS MOMENTARILY, AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WENT TO FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. HE STATED THE NOSE THEN ROSE SLIGHTLY, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED TO THE LEFT, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 952
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HARVEST
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35749
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EPPS AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3M4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 820
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1035 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID HVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 755
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1570
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13738
NTSB Number ATL93FA136
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 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17262984
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 2453
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PATTERSON, CHARLES C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 720 DESOTO RD.
Aircraft Owner City HUNTSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 HVL
Departure City HUNTSVILLE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 19
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --