H L Sonny Callahan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairhope, Alabama 36532
Friday, October 26, 2012 16:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Two airplanes, a Grumman and a Piper, were operating at a non-towered airport. The pilot of the Piper reported that he did not hear any airplane making position reports over the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency and subsequently taxied on a taxiway that was located about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway and taxied past the hold short line toward the runway. The pilot of the Piper stopped his airplane about 75 feet short of the runway (and beyond the hold short line) when he noticed a Grumman that was on final approach. After touching down, about 500 feet beyond the runway threshold, the Grumman rolled another 300 to 400 feet before it suddenly veered left, and departed the side of the runway. The Grumman struck a taxiway sign before impacting the Piper, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. Postaccident examination of the Grumman revealed no discrepancies with the braking system; however, the left main landing gear tire was flat, and its inner tube displayed a small gash. It could not be determined if the damage to the tube occurred before or as a result of side-loading placed on it during the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The Grumman pilot’s loss of directional control during landing for undetermined reasons because postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the Piper pilot positioning his airplane beyond the runway hold short line.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1650
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Fairhope
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36532
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 302722N
Event Location Longitude 0875222W
Event Location Airport H L Sonny Callahan Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CQF
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 91
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CQF
Elevation of weather observation facility 91
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 262155 METAR KCQF 262155Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM CLR 28
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31376
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 12 2013 3:01PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N26380 N2633A
NTSB Number ERA13LA041A ERA13LA041B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. PIPER
Aircraft Model AA-5A PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A0404 22-905
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350 1950
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2012 12:00AM Jul 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 4896 2829
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown No
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name STEWART JOHN F COOK CHARLES M
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM JAY
Aircraft Owner State AL FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35242-2747 32565-9407
Operator is an individual? Yes Yes
Operator Name STEWART JOHN F COOK CHARLES M
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City BIRMINGHAM JAY
Operator State AL FL
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 35242-2747 32565-9407
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No 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 Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code CQF CQF
Departure City Fairhope Fairhope
Departure State AL AL
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1600 --
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere --
Destination Airport Code CQF 16FL
Destination City Fairhope Milton
Destination State AL FL
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2013 10:23AM May 3 2013 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record kenj kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01 N/A
Runway Length 6604 --
Runway Width 100 --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --