- Date
- April 22, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brooks, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N52652Boeing A75N1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 8, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890422012039A
- Case key
- 8020
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Climb not possible because of a downdraft which exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane. Factors related to the accident were: inadequate location of the wind sock, the adverse wind conditions, and the trees.
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 2970' rwy (elevation 820') was mostly surrounded by trees. With a temp of about 81 deg, the estimated density alt was 2700'. As the plt & psgr were taxiing to rwy 2 to take off, the wind sock, which was located below the tree tops, was noted to be limp. The plt rprtd that during takeoff, lift-off was at 65 mph after an aprx 600' roll & a climb was estabd at 75 to 80 mph. However, as the acft climbed abv the trees, a left drift was enctrd & the acft stopped climbing,although there was no apparent eng problem. By this time, there was insufficient rwy remaining to abort & the acft was apchg trees near the end of the rwy. The plt traded airspeed for alt to clear the trees & then the acft began to mush. Subsequently, it settled into smaller trees & came to rest with substantial dmg. The plt believed the acft enctrd a quartering tailwind & a downdraft as it was climbing abv the trees during takeoff & subsequently got behind the power curve.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52652
- Reported as
- Boeing A75N1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-4328
- Airframe hours
- 2,526
- Engine
- Continental R-670-11, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Malcom Harper
- Registered owner
- M.L. Harper
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 24, 1989 · 20 hours before
- Airport
- 8GA9 · Brook Bridge, runway 2, 2,970 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 11,087 total · 50 in this make and model · 7,592 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATL, 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.
Other investigations on N52652 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.