# NTSB ATL04LA087: Aircraft Mfg & Development Alarus CH2T, N605AM, Bay Minette, AL, March 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2004, 03:15 local (09:15 UTC) - Place: Bay Minette, AL - Coordinates: 30.873056, -87.817779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8731&lon=-87.8178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58961/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight decision which resulted in continued VFR flight into IMC conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor was the fog. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis Upon arriving at the destination airport the pilot discovered that instrument weather conditions existed. The pilot elected to divert to another airport where weathers conditions were thought to be better. When the visual flight arrived at the uncontrolled airport, the pilot again discovered reduced visibility and foggy conditions. According to the pilot, he attempted two visual approaches to land but executed go-arounds because of reduced weather conditions. However, at about 15 feet above the ground, on the third approach to land, the pilot recalled hearing something striking the airplane, he felt a thump as the airplane collided with trees and the ground. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. According to the pilot, during the preflight weather briefing visual weather conditions were forecast for the entire flight. The pilot did not report requesting or receiving updated weather data while en route. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2004, at 0315 central standard time, an Aircraft MFG Alarus CH2T home built airplane, N605AM, registered to Aircraft Manufacturing & Developing Company, operated by Phil's Flying Enterprises, Inc., and flown by a commercial pilot, collided with trees while maneuvering for an approach to Bay Minette Municipal Airport in Bay Minette, Alabama. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules (VFR). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot received minor injuries, the passenger received serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Marietta Cobb County - McCollum Airport in Marietta, Georgia, on March 27, 2004 at 2315 eastern standard time. According to the pilot, he received a weather briefing from the Federal Aviation Administration and stated that the reported conditions were sky clear, unlimited visibility and VFR was recommended en route from McCullum Airport in Marietta, Georgia to Fairhope, Alabama, his intended destination. The pilot said that they departed McCullum Airport at about 2315 and received flight following from Atlanta approach enroute to Fulton County airport in Atlanta, Georgia and arrived at about 2330. The airplane's fuel was topped off with about eight gallons of 100LL aviation fuel bringing the airplane usable fuel level to 26 gallons. The pilot and passenger departed Fulton County Airport at about 2345 enroute to Fair Hope, Alabama. The pilot stated that he called a friend in Fairhope just prior to departure and the friend reported that the sky was clear and the visibility was unlimited. The pilot stated that the trip to Fairhope was unremarkable. Upon arriving at Fairhope, the pilot noticed that fog had become increasingly worse and that he could not land VFR. The pilot contacted Houston Approach and advised them that he was diverting to Bay Minette Municipal Airport. Upon arrival at Bay Minette, he found the weather conditions similar to Fairhope. The pilot stated that he had used his reserve and had about 20 minutes of fuel remaining. The pilot stated that he made a low approach into Bay Minette and discovered that the fog was extremely dense and at about 150 feet above ground level, the pilot executed a go-around and was now going to attempt the VOR runway 080 approach. He said he made this approach but could only see the Runway End Identifier Lights and executed a second go-around. On his third approach at about 15 feet above ground level, he heard something strike the airplane like a pine tree, he then heard a loud thump on the right side and then suddenly hit the ground and impacted a tree on the left side, damaging both wings, firewall and all three landing gear. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. . Weather data was recovered from the nearest observation facility at Mobile Downtown Airport, in Mobile, Alabama, 20 miles northwest of the accident site. The surface weather observation at 0400 was: winds 0000 knots, visibility 1/4 statute mile in fog, overcast 300 feet , temperature 16 degrees Celsius, dew point 16 degrees Celsius and barometric pressure of 30.17 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N605AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N605AM-2009-10-23), registration cancelled 2009-10-23, S/N 20-1015, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aircraft MFG & Development Co. Alarus CH2T - Registry model: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-development-ch-2000) (registry code 0033001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-1016 - Airframe hours: 236.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 116 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Phil's Flying Enterprises, Inc - Registered owner: Aircraft Manufacturing & Development Co. - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2004, 25.1 hours before - Departed: FYY, Marietta, GA - Destination: 1R8, Bay Minette, AL - Airport: 1R8, Bay Minette Municipal, runway 08, 4,280 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 31, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 318 total, 156 in this make and model, 148 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: BFM, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040328004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040328004929A), Mar 28, 2004: Zinair CH2000, Bay Minette, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he took off from cobb county airport-mccollum field, atlanta, Georgia (ryy) enroute VFR to fairhope, Alabama (4R4) at 0230 hours. He… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.