Aero Vodochody L39C N16RZ
21 January 2012 · Rainbow City, Alabama, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 21 January 2012 at about 00:18 local time, a Aero Vodochody L39C registered N16RZ, operated by Thomas L. Coble, was involved in an accident near Rainbow City, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:18
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rainbow City, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Northeast Alabama Regional (GAD)
- Coordinates
- 33.9522, -86.1014
- Aircraft
- Aero Vodochody L39C
- Registration
- N16RZ
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Thomas L. Coble
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Gadsden → Burlington
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ERA12FA149
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
An in-flight loss of control in instrument meteorological conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot radioed an air traffic controller and obtained an instrument flight rules clearance while on the ground. The pilot read back the clearance and was informed that he was released for departure and to switch to advisory frequency. There was no further radio contact between air traffic controllers and the pilot, and the airplane was never radar identified. The base of the radar coverage at the airport is 4,000 feet. Another pilot, who was on the ground at the airport waiting to depart, informed the controller that he watched the flight depart and heard a pretty loud boom shortly afterward. A postcrash fire ensued. The ceiling was 300 feet overcast, with visibility 1 mile in mist. The main wreckage was located about 1.1 miles south-southwest of the airport in a swampy wooded area. Postcrash examination revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Vodochody L39C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 2012 | Aero Vodochody L39C | Davenport, Iowa, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Jun 2013 | Aero Vodochody L39C | Reno, Nevada, United States | Larry Lee | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Aero Vodochody L39C | West Milford, New Jersey, United States | Air Vatche Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 2017 | Aero Vodochody L39C | Vernon, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2012 | Boeing A75N1 | Foley, Alabama, United States | Kinsey ROY M JR | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2012 | Strout Frank AVENTURA II | Laceys Spring, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Sep 2012 | Sikorsky S-76C | Theodore, Alabama, United States | PHI Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 2012 | Bell OH-58A | Eufaula, Alabama, United States | B & S Air Inc | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2012 | Aviat A-1B | Sylacauga, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Cessna 150H | Alabaster, Alabama, United States | Reid DON W | No injuries | - |