Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Whitesburg, Georgia 30185
Thursday, October 17, 1991 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A WIND SHIFT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING CLIMBOUT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED COLLISION WITH TREES. WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT OBSERVED A SWIRLING WIND CONDITION AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A SUDDEN WIND SHIFT DURING INITIAL CLIMB WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WHITESBURG
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30185
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1750
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1849
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45727
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11077
NTSB Number ATL92LA009
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 91
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Sep 7 1901 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 1600
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROSENTHAL, E.J/ SMISSON, C
Aircraft Owner Street Address 493 BARNSBURG
Aircraft Owner City ADAIRSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30106
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROSENTHAL, E.J/ SMISSON, C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 493 BARNSBURG
Operator City ADAIRSVILLE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30106
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 1528
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FTY
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --