Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Red Level, Alabama 36474
Monday, September 13, 1982 17:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER SPRAYING CROPS, THE PILOT NOTED A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE SOUND AND NOTICED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. ANTICIPATING AN IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE, THE PILOT LANDED ON A PORTION OF AN OLD HIGHWAY THAT WAS CLEAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 75 TO 100 YARDS ON A STEEP GRADE, THE RIGHT WING TIP HIT SMALL GUM TREES. ON THE OPPOSITE BANK OF THE ROAD WERE A DENSE CLUMP OF PLUM TREES THAT WERE SOMEWHAT SMALLER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PRECISELY ON THE CENTERLINE OF THE ROAD AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT STRUCK THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A DITCH. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A FLEXIBLE OIL LINE (SR2800-8-0390-64228-6 TSO C53A TYPE C SEPT 74 PT) RUPTURED AND ALLOWED A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND PRESSURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RED LEVEL
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36474
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 85
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1955
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 Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9728P
NTSB Number ATL82DA273
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
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-25
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25
Aircraft Serial Number 25-7556043
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 1
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 148
Airframe Hours 1738
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES LAWSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address RURAL ROUTE 5, BOX 207
Aircraft Owner City ANDALUSIA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36420
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES LAWSON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RURAL ROUTE 5, BOX 207
Operator City ANDALUSIA
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36420
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CAROLINA
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CAROLINA
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --