Horak Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elberta, Alabama 36350
Thursday, July 28, 1988 18:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM ELBERTA, AL, TO DESTIN, FL & RETURN. THE FLT INCLUDED 4 EN ROUTE STOPS TO PICK UP & DROP OFF PAX. DURING AN EN ROUTE STOP, THE PLT CHECKED THE FUEL BY USING A HOME MADE DIP STICK & HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO REACH THE FINAL DESTN. HOWEVER, HE DIDN'T KNOW THE GALLON EQUIVALENT PER INCH OF FUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION BEFORE THE PLT REACHED THE DESTN ARPT. HE SELECTED THE MOST SUITABLE AREA FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, BUT THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO SOFT/WET TERRAIN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1810
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ELBERTA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36350
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HORAK FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 58J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 75
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 110
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1733 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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) 1255
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37351
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4090D
NTSB Number ATL88LA221
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182A
Aircraft Series Identifier 182A
Aircraft Serial Number 34790
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREEFLIGHT AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 176 CHARLES DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PALE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32570
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) Business
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 1737
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 58J
Destination City ELBERTA
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 18
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --