Dothan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dothan, Alabama 36302
Saturday, May 18, 1991 14:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON TAKEOFF DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 800 FEET MSL. AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 150 FEET. HE FLEW A CLOSE DOWNWIND LEG WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSHOOTING THE EXTENDED CENTER LINE WHEN HE TURNED ONTO FINAL. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITH THE LEFT WHEEL ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY & THE RIGHT WHEEL IN THE GRASS. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED RIGHT INTO A FENCE. ONE CLYINDER HEAD WAS FOUND BROKEN AWAY FROM THE CYLINDER BODY. THE CYLINDER HEAD SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING & THERE WAS EXHAUST GAS IMPINGEMENT & BLACKENING OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS OVERHEATED OPERATIONS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INACCURATE APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT SWERVE INTO THE FENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/18/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DOTHAN
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36302
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DOTHAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DHN
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 401
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1409 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 401
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
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) 1452
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44282
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3549R
NTSB Number ATL91LA097
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model 23
Aircraft Series Identifier 23
Aircraft Serial Number M722
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Jul 15 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 2102
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HEADLEY, CHARLES E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 16
Aircraft Owner City MIDLAND CITY
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36350
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HEADLEY, CHARLES E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 16
Operator City MIDLAND CITY
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36350
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 1405
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PFN
Destination City PANAMA CITY
Destination State FL
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 13
Runway Length 8498
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --