# Accident 20120120001119A: Aero Vodochody L39C, Rainbow City, AL, January 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 2012, 18:18 local time
- Place: Rainbow City, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9522° N, 86.1014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9522&lon=-86.1014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16RZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16RZ-2014-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Vodochody L39C (registry code 05620RN, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-vodochody-l39c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Ivchenko AL-25SERIES (registry code 34702, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ivchenko-al-25series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO VODOCHODY L39C
- Reported engine: IVCHENKO AL-25SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,200 total, 83 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120120001119A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS IFR CLEARANCE FROM BIRMINGHAM APPROACH AND WAS RELEASED FOR DEPARTURE.  THIS WAS A NIGHT IMC DEPARTURE.  THE WEATHER WAS 300 OVERCAST AND 1 MILE.  THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 24 LESS THAN TWO MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING HIS CLEARANCE.  A WITNESS STATED HE SAW AIRCRAFT GET AIRBORNE AND ENTER THE CLOUDS.  ABOUT A MINUTE LATER A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD.  THE WRECKAGE SITE WAS SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATLY 1.1 MILES.  THE DEBRIS PATH WAS ON A HEADING OF 070.

## 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 ERA12FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA149), Jan 21, 2012: Aero Vodochody L39C (N16RZ), Rainbow City, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight loss of control in instrument meteorological conditions.

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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