Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Calera, Alabama 35040
Saturday, July 25, 1987 6:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LDG ATTEMPT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATING NEAR EMPTY SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. AS HE EXECUTED A 'STEEP' 180 DEG TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND 'QUIT'. DURING HIS SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A FIELD, THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE AIRPLANE 'TOOK OFF' ON HIM INTO NEARBY TREES. HE PULLED THE POWER BACK AND DELIBERATELY STALLED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE TREES. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 645
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CALERA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35040
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 1438
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34739
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N737ZZ
NTSB Number ATL87LA224
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 R182
Aircraft Series Identifier R182
Aircraft Serial Number R18200901
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1350
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLIFFORD T. GREGG
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3113 SUNNY MEADOWS LANE
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35243
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLIFFORD T. GREGG
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3313 SUNNY MEADOWS LANE
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35243
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 21A
Departure City ALABASTER
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code A09
Destination City MARION
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --