Fairchild 24G N16866

Summary

On 28 January 1998 at about 18:30 local time, a Fairchild 24G registered N16866 was involved in an accident near Andalusia, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 January 1998 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Andalusia, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.2998, -86.4804

Aircraft

Fairchild 24G

Registration

N16866

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milton → Greenville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98FA060

1 person died.

A loss of engine power while in cruise flight caused by a contaminated fuel supply and the subsequent inflight collision with trees and unsuitable terrain during the emergency descent and landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The recently restored antique airplane impacted trees on the bank of a river within a densely forested national forest while being ferried to the restorer for some last minute detailing prior to a sale. There were no witnesses, and initial notification came from a fellow pilot when the accident pilot failed to show up at a predetermined meeting place. Subsequent examination of aircraft components revealed the propeller was developing little power on impact with trees, and the fuel system contained water and corrosion contamination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.