# NTSB ATL83FA376: Aeronca O-58B, N46929, Geiger, AL, September 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1983, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Geiger, AL
- Coordinates: 32.810699, -88.149353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8107&lon=-88.1494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5949/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA376

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT CIRCLE AT 300-400 FT AGL AND THEN DO A SNAP ROLL. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A SPIN AND SPUN ABOUT 2 TURNS BEFORE IMPACT. THE WITNESS SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO PERFORM A SINGLE TURN 'SNAP ROLL'. HE SAID HE REMEMBERS ENTERING THE ROLL BUT HAS NO FURTHER RECOLLECTION. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD DONE THIS MANEUVER ABOUT 200 TIMES IN THE PAST. ON THIS OCCASION THE MANEUVER WAS DONE INTO THE SETTING SUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N46929 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA O-58B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 13834
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Bryan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GEIGER, AL
- Destination: 28M, SCOOBA, MS
- Airport: Geiger

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NMM, 40 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 19830922068079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830922068079A), Sep 22, 1983: Aronca O58B, Geiger, AL, Destroyed. Spun out of a low level snap roll. Too low for recovery. Held a waiver for low level acrobatics.

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.

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