- Date
- November 22, 1999, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Defuniak Spgs, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N733AHCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991122040229A
- Case key
- 47831
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
Was the pilot's failure to obtain a proper weather briefing resulting in his encounter with fog, his having to make a precautionary landing in a field when the aircraft became low on fuel, and the on ground collision with trees during landing roll.
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
Prior to departure the pilot checked the weather on television. Upon arriving at his destination, he found the airport fogged in. He diverted to another airport and it was also fogged in. He returned to his departure airport and found it fogged in. He flew southeast from his departure airport and found a break in the fog. Because he was getting low on fuel, he elected to make a precautionary landing in a field. While landing, he landed downwind, and floated over his intended landing point. After touch down, the aircraft rolled into some brush and trees and was damaged.
Factual narrative
On November 22, 1999, about 0730 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N733AH, registered to an individual, collided with brush and trees while making a precautionary landing in a field near Defuniak Springs, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Geneva, Alabama, the same day, about 0700.
The pilot stated that after reviewing the weather on the weather channel, he departed on a local flight with his wife to perform several touch-and-go landings at the Geneva Airport. His wife then got out of the aircraft and he departed for Elba, Alabama, where he intended to purchase fuel for the aircraft. Upon arriving over Elba, he found the airport fogged in. He then diverted to Enterprise, Alabama, and found that airport fogged in. He then decided to return to Geneva. Upon arriving over Geneva, he found that airport also fogged in. He then made contact with controllers at Cairns Army Airfield, after having relayed his problem, via another aircraft, to controllers at Columbus, Georgia. He flew southeast of Geneva and encountered a clear area. He was getting low on fuel and elected to make a precautionary landing in a field, and he informed the controllers of this. Upon landing, he landed downwind and the aircraft floated over the intended landing point. The aircraft then touched down and rolled into heavy brush and trees and came to rest. The aircraft's wings contacted trees during landing roll and received substantial damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N733AH
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268141
- Airframe hours
- 4,249
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles W. Blakeney
- Registered owner
- Tom Motley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 23, 1999 · 170 hours before
- Departed
- 33J · Geneva, AL
- Destination
- 14J · Elba, 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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 197 total · 108 in this make and model · 123 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 1.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DHN, 40 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.