- Date
- September 20, 1991, 20:00 local (Sep 21, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alabaster, AL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N700CHCessna C-172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910920042069A
- Case key
- 8337
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
The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed which resulted in an unintentional stall and collision with the ground. A factor was the pilot's use of unprescribed drugs.
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 flight stalled and crashed while on downwind to runway 15. The newly certificated private pilot failed to maintain flying speed while on downwind for a full stop landing. The airplane stalled and crashed on the utility company right of way adjacent to the airport. The vertical impact displaced the instrument panel aft towards the pilot's station. Wreckage examination failed to disclose mechanical problems. However, the toxicological examination indicated the presence of diazepam, a tranquilizer, in the pilot's blood.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N700CH
- Reported as
- Cessna C-172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172-71270
- Airframe hours
- 3,049
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Teleunion Corp.
- Registered owner
- Teleunion Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 21, 1991 · 47 hours before
- Departed
- 81J · Destin, FL
- Destination
- 21A · Alabaster, AL
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- Shelby County, runway 15, 3,797 × 75 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 170 total · 170 in this make and model · 60 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BHM, 15 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.