Hampton-Russell Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Decatur, Alabama 35603
Sunday, June 6, 2004 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he took off from the private grass airstrip with the intention of "buzzing" a friend's property. He stated that after he located the property and observed people outside, he turned the airplane around to begin maneuvering to a lower altitude. He stated that at about 1500 feet mean sea level, he began a descent over a field in the general direction of the property. He said he saw the power lines a short time and distance later, and he advanced the throttle to full power and pulled up on the yoke. He stated that the engine did not produce an immediate response. The airplane collided with the power lines 50 feet above ground level and a subsequent forced landing was attempted in a nearby field. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the firewall sustained extensive damage, the windscreen was broken from mounts, both wings incurred spar and rib damage, the fuselage and tail were buckled and bent, and the nose gear was torn from the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in collision with utility wires.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Decatur
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35603
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343901N
Event Location Longitude 0865642W
Event Location Airport Hampton-Russell Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 96
Weather Observation Facility ID HSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 658
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16218
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 6 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birminghan FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10424
NTSB Number ATL04CA127
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15074853
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 25 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4837
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Charles Hampton
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5011 County Road 327
Aircraft Owner City Trinity
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35673
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Clifford Lamar Collins
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2188 County Road 345
Operator City Decatur
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 35603
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Decatur
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2004 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --