George Bryan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Starkville, Mississippi 39759
Tuesady, July 22, 2008 15:57 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting his third takeoff from the runway, in which he intended to complete a 180-degree return to the airport. When the airplane was at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level (75 feet above the trees), the pilot initiated a 25-degree left bank turn back toward the runway. During the turn, the airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. The pilot’s blood alcohol level was 0.13 g/dL one hour after the accident. He had a history of DUIs and inpatient alcohol-related treatment, and a history of anxiety treated with prescription medication (paroxetine and alprazolam); however, he denied any medical or alcohol-related history on his applications for FAA airman medical certificates. The pilot would have been impaired by the effects of alcohol while flying the aircraft, and he may also have been impaired by use of alprazolam. According to 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.17, "No person may act ... as a crewmember of a civil aircraft ... while under the influence of alcohol…or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment by alcohol.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1557
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Starkville
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39759
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332559N
Event Location Longitude 0885055W
Event Location Airport George Bryan Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID STF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID GTR
Elevation of weather observation facility 264
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
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) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25854
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region Comm Cente
NTSB Notification Date Jul 20 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2009 3:46PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N822CB
NTSB Number NYC08LA253
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 CARRITHERS CARL L
Aircraft Model VP1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 091650
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 20 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARRITHERS CARL LEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MABEN
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39750-9606
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CARRITHERS CARL LEE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Maben
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 39750
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 STF
Departure City Starkville
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2009 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5550
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --