Shelby County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alabaster, Alabama 35007
Friday, September 20, 1991 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT STALLED AND CRASHED WHILE ON DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 15. THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE ON DOWNWIND FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED ON THE UTILITY COMPANY RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. THE VERTICAL IMPACT DISPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFT TOWARDS THE PILOT'S STATION. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THE TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION INDICATED THE PRESENCE OF DIAZEPAM, A TRANQUILIZER, IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNINTENTIONAL STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S USE OF UNPRESCRIBED DRUGS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ALABASTER
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35007
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHELBY COUNTY
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 300
Airport Elevation 584
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2350 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
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 CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 620
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1989
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46039
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N700CH
NTSB Number ATL91FA176
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model C-172N
Aircraft Series Identifier C-172N
Aircraft Serial Number 172-71270
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 Jun 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 3049
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TELEUNION CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 90 HIGHLANDS
Aircraft Owner City TUSCALOOSA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35404
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TELEUNION CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 90 HIGHLANDS
Operator City TUSCALOOSA
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35404
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 81J
Departure City DESTIN
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 21A
Destination City ALABASTER
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 15
Runway Length 3797
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --