# Accident 19970401004049A: Amtr HAULER, Centerville, AL, April 1, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 1997, 16:00 local time
- Place: Centerville, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.9504° N, 87.1290° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9504&lon=-87.1290&mi=10
- Aircraft: N301A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301A-2001-11-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Catchot Angus SR HAULER (registry code 05601IA, https://openairdocs.org/model/catchot-angus-sr-hauler) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR HAULER
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970401004049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AFTER DEPARTURE IGNITION SHORTED. SMOKE IN COCKPIT. ENGINE QUIT. HIT TREE TOPS LANDING. NO AIRWORTHY CERTIFICATE. (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED BESSEMER AT APPROXIMATELY 1745 HRS. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT TO WIGGINS, MS, THE ELECTRONICS IGNITION SYSTEM SHORTED FILLING THE COCKPIT WITH SMOKE.  WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF THE SHORT OF BOTH CDI'S, THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FORCED LANDING. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR MINOR INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA053), Apr 1, 1997: Catchot Hauler (N301A), Centerville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the engine manufacturer's failure to install ballast resistors in the ignition system, which resulted in an electrical short in the dual ignition system and subsequent loss of engine power.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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