Cessna 172 N8322B

Summary

On 16 June 1993 at about 23:18 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8322B, operated by Cutts, Cathy G., was involved in an accident near St. Elmo, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 1993 at 23:18

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Elmo, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

St. Elmo (2R5)

Coordinates

30.5106, -88.2708

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8322B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cutts, Cathy G.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93LA112

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE ENTIRE RUNWAY FOR THE TAKEOFF, AND THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF ON THE 4,000 FOOT RUNWAY (1,500 FEET REMAINING). A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP, RIGHT HAND TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THEN HE HEARD THE CRASH. HE ALSO REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE RUNNING UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES LOCATED ABOUT 1,000 FEET PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED POSITIVE FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY EXISTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A POWERPLANT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY EVENTS REGARDING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.