- Date
- February 1, 1986, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alexander City, AL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N52238Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860201001969A
- Case key
- 7060
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
The acft was observed to make one takeoff and landing from an umimproved pasture. The second takeoff attempted was unsuccessful and the acft collided with a tree and crashed to the ground. The plt did not report any mechanical problems with the acft. There were three passengers onboard for this last takeoff attempt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52238
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172-74451
- Airframe hours
- 857
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-02J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William G.Birchfield
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 21, 1985 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- New Site, 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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM, 70 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.