Dothan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dothan, Alabama 36303
Sunday, September 30, 1990 10:08 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. WHEN CLEARED FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE (RUNWAY 13), HE ERRONEOUSLY TURNED ONTO RUNWAY 31 AND STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF 060 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, AND THE APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, HE ATTEMPTED OF LIFT OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USAGE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, PRESENCE OF CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/30/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1008
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DOTHAN
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36303
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 9
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1017 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 401
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 922
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 30 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1211
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42093
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49553
NTSB Number ATL90LA184
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15283475
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NAPIER AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 6 BOX 206
Aircraft Owner City DOTHAN
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36303
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DHN
Departure City DOTHAN
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1008
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 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 31
Runway Length 8498
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --