Birmingham Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Birmingham, Alabama 35206
Wednesday, July 14, 1982 15:13 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 3/10 MILE NORTH OF RUNWAY 36. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRSPEED DECAYED AND THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO THE GROUND. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 81 AND 73 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING WOULD OCCUR AT GLIDE (IDLE) POWER. THE AIRCRAFT OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK STATED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT SHOULD BE CHECKED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF TO BE SURE THE CONTROL IS OPERATING PROPERLY AND TO CLEAR ANY ICE WHICH MAY HAVE FORMED DURING TAXIING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PREFLIGHT AND RUNUP INSPECTION WERE COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLISHED CHECKLIST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1513
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BIRMINGHAM
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35206
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BIRMINGHAM MUNICIPAL
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1448
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID BHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 81
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3052
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98316
NTSB Number ATL82FA195
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-26166
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 2036
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VULCAN FLYING SERVICES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2133 LARKWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VULCAN FLYING SERVICES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2133 LARKWOOD DRIVE
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BIRMINGHAM
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BIRMINGHAM
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4855
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --