Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Saturday, December 26, 1992 11:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE LEFT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A DITCH WHICH LIES ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL. A FACTOR WAS THE WIND GUST.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/26/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TUSCALOOSA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35401
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TUSCALOOSA MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TCL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 170
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 169
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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) 989
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52043
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N92AP
NTSB Number ATL93LA042
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 PITTS
Aircraft Model S2B
Aircraft Series Identifier S2B
Aircraft Serial Number 5240
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
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 Dec 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 90
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALDROP, HOMER V.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2301 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City TUSCALOOSA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WALDROP, HOMER V.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2301 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
Operator City TUSCALOOSA
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35401
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 TCL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TCL
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --