- Date
- October 27, 1984, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Springville, AL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N953AAFour Seasons Aviations American Aerolight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841027060779A
- Case key
- 6697
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 aprx 150 ft the plt heard a noise and observed a fire involving the rear portion of the acft. The plastic fuel tank ruptured and burning fuel was sucked aft through the pusher prop. The ballistic parachute was deployed and opened as the acft hit a 60 ft tall tree. The plt stated the opinion that the fuel tank mounting ass'y may have failed allowing the fuel tank to fall onto the eng. Exam of the eng revealed that the molded fuel tank was broken.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N953AA
- Reported as
- Four Seasons Aviations American Aerolight (AMERICAN A)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 400157
- Airframe hours
- 36
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Operator
- Michael Pair, doing business as 4 Seasons Aviation
- Registered owner
- Four Seasons Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 6, 1984
- Departed
- Springville, AL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 37 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.