Merkel Sylacagua Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
Sunday, March 4, 2001 11:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Tfhe aircraft landed runway 27 in winds that were being reported as from 230-degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The aircraft touched down and immediately began leaving rubber streaks on the runway from all three tires. The aircraft departed the runway surface at about a 45-degree angle, and collided with trees located about 50 feet from the runway edge. Postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed no precrash mechanical malfunctions of the steering system or braking system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, and the subsequent runway excursion and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Sylacauga
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35150
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331031N
Event Location Longitude 0861833W
Event Location Airport Merkel Sylacagua
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SCD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 570
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID ANB
Elevation of weather observation facility 569
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10304
NTSB Notification Source Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8844V
NTSB Number MIA01LA092
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model BL-17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30368
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 Nov 22 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2649
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jon Hankins
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6640 Leroy Jordan Rd. S.
Aircraft Owner City Semmes
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36575
Operator is an individual? Yes
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MOB
Departure City Mobile
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SCD
Destination City Sylacauga
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 23 2001 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5390
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --