Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springville, Alabama 35146
Saturday, October 27, 1984 16:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT APRX 150 FT THE PLT HEARD A NOISE AND OBSERVED A FIRE INVOLVING THE REAR PORTION OF THE ACFT. THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK RUPTURED AND BURNING FUEL WAS SUCKED AFT THROUGH THE PUSHER PROP. THE BALLISTIC PARACHUTE WAS DEPLOYED AND OPENED AS THE ACFT HIT A 60 FT TALL TREE. THE PLT STATED THE OPINION THAT THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING ASS'Y MAY HAVE FAILED ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO FALL ONTO THE ENG. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE MOLDED FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SPRINGVILLE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35146
Event Date Year 1984
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 15
Degrees magnetic from airport 10
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1630
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2550
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26490
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N953AA
NTSB Number ATL85LA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 103: Ultralight
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FOUR SEASONS AVIATIONS
Aircraft Model AMERICAN AEROLIGHT
Aircraft Series Identifier AMERICAN A
Aircraft Serial Number 400157
Certified Max Gross Weight 840
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jul 6 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 36
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FOUR SEASONS AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 708 77T WAY SOUTH
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35206
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL PAIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 708 77TH WAY SOUTH
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35206
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SPRINGVILLE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
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 Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --