Talladega, Al Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Munford, Alabama 32628
Tuesady, February 13, 2001 18:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passengers were on a instrument flight returning home. When they were within range of the destination airport, the controller cleared the flight for an instrument approach. Moment later the pilot canceled his instrument flight plan and told the controller that he was below the weather. Low clouds, reduced visibility and fog existed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. The airplane collided with a river bank as the pilot maneuvered for the visual approach. The post-crash examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot continued visual flight into instrument weather conditions that resulted in the inflight collision with a river bank. Factors were reduced visibility and dark night.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MUNFORD
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32628
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport TALLADEGA, AL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ASN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 72
Airport Elevation 528
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 53 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID ANB
Elevation of weather observation facility 612
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) 300
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 5
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12153
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 13 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2002 10:10AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office ALABAMA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5AY
NTSB Number ATL01FA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 421
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 421-0133
Certified Max Gross Weight 6800
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 2 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4887
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD ROBERTSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1429 Noble Street
Aircraft Owner City Anniston
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36201
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 HAO
Departure City HAMILTON
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1557
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ASN
Destination City TALLADEGA
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 4 2003 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 6002
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --