# NTSB ATL89LA135: Boeing A75N1, N52652, Brooks, GA, April 22, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Brooks, GA - Coordinates: 33.290931, -84.279228 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2909&lon=-84.2792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 8, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8020/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA135 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - climb - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - inadequate (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52652), registered now, S/N 75-4328, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-4328 - Airframe hours: 2526 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19890422012039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890422012039A), Apr 22, 1989: Boeing A75N1, Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. Normal takeoff. Aircraft began to settle. Maintained full throttle till impacted nose high. Suspect wind reversal. ## Other investigations on N52652 (3) 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. - [NTSB ERA22LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA379), Aug 20, 2022: Boeing A75N1 (N52652), Bealeton, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot of the departing airplane’s failure to see and avoid the landing airplane before takeoff, resulting in a collision with the landing airplane. Contributing was the airport’s failure to… - [NTSB FTW76DRA55](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DRA55), Jul 30, 1976: Boeing A75N1 (N52652), Houston, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X1832](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1832), May 18, 1964: Boeing A75N1 (N52652), Eagle Lake, TX, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.