- Date
- June 4, 1982, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place
- Alabaster, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5443HCessna 172M
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 4, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820604020609A
- Case key
- 69706
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At 0755, the plt contacted birmingham approach control & reported 35 mi south at 2,000 ft. he was advised of the bhm wx & that it was IFR at the arpt. The pilot stated he would like to land at another arpt & was given his approximate position to three arpts. At 0808 radar contact was established approximately 6 mi sw of shelby county arpt. The plt thenadvised that he was maneuvering VFR. At 0811, the plt advised he was turning south to find better VFR wx. The acft crashed about 7 mi wsw of the shelby county arpt. The controller working the acft notified the team supervisor of loss of radio & radar contact, who then notified the deputy chief. At 0845, the tower chief directed that preliminary accident notification procedures not be implemented. At 1400, three personnel from the bhm tower, including the controller who was working the acft & had requested 2 hrs annual leave to assist, initiated search actions on their own,& located the wreckage at 1510.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5443H
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172-65441
- Airframe hours
- 1,013
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James H. Thomas
- Registered owner
- James H. Thomas
- Departed
- Mobile, AL
- Destination
- Birmingham, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 156 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BHN, 25 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.