Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Monday, June 29, 1992 16:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME FOLLOWING REPAINTING. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT HEARD WIND NOISE FROM THE CABIN & NOTED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR WAS AJAR. SHORTLY AFTERWARD IT DEPARTED THE FUSELAGE & STRUCK THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WAS COMPLETED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE EXIT HAD BEEN MIS-RIGGED. DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE SEAL FOR THE UPPER CABIN DOOR WAS REPLACED BUT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF WORK ON THE EMERGENCY EXIT. THE RECORDS FOR THE RECENT REPAINTING OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY WORK THAT REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE EMERGENCY EXIT, BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS SEPARATION, IN FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TUSCALOOSA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35401
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID TCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2300
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) 2570
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 30 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1545
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47293
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N910WT
NTSB Number ATL92LA133
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 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 402B0392
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 --
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 19 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 9910
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 GLEN IRIS PARK
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35205
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 16 GLEN IRIS PARK
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35205
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --