- Date
- November 5, 1989, 11:38 local (17:38 UTC)
- Place
- Gadsden, AL
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19891105044171A19891105044172A
- Case key
- 8104
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
Failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain adequate visual lookout to see-and-avoid the other aircraft.
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
A Beech C90 (N3804F) & a Cessna 172 (N52244) collided at an alt of about 200 to 300 ft AGL as the 2 acft were taking off on intersecting rwys at an uncontrolled arpt. The Beech plts were departing from rwy 6 with an IFR flight plan, while the Cessna plts were in the pattern on an instructional flt, performing a touch & go. Two ATP pilots were in the Beech; an instructor plt (CFI) & a low-time student were in the Cessna. Based on witness information, the Cessna crew made at least 1 radio call on UNICOM while in the pattern before lndg, and another call while taking off. The Beech crew reportedly made a radio call as the takeoff roll was begun. Neither flt crew appeared to take any evasive action until just before impact. The Beech plts had received a flt plan clearance on another freq shortly before taking off.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3804F
- Reported as
- Beech C90
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- LJ-947
- Airframe hours
- 3,449
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-21, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Gulf States Steel, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Nevada Flyco, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 7, 1989 · 70 hours before
- Destination
- GSP · Greer, SC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- GAD · Gadsen Muni, runway 6, 6,803 × 150 ft, asphalt
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.
- Registration
- N52244
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274454
- Airframe hours
- 4,100
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aviation Services Of Gadsden
- Registered owner
- Eagle Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 12, 1989 · 50 hours before
- Airport
- GAD · Gadsen Muni, runway 18, 4,803 × 150 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3804F
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 125 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N52244
- Age
- 50
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 200 in this make and model · 101 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ANB, 26 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.