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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 27, 1996 · Cessna 152 · N95396

Talladega, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 27, 1996
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Talladega, AL
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N95396
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL96FA096

During flight, the airplane collided with an 18 foot section of an antenna that was installed on top of a U.S. Forest Service fire watch tower. The airplane then crashed about 300 feet north of the tower, and wreckage was found scattered over an area approximately 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. The airplane wreckage and engine compartment were further damaged by ground fire. Debris from the watch tower antenna was located in the main wreckage, and some antenna debris was also found several feet north of the main wreckage. No preimpact mechanical problem was found.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid an antenna that was mounted on a Forest Service watch tower. The pilot's excessively low altitude flight was a related factor.

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 27, 1996, at 0945 central daylight time, a Cessna C-152, N95396, collided with an antenna mounted on a fire watch tower on Horn Mountain near Talladega, Alabama. The business flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed; the private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 0651 hours. On June 27, 1996, at 1823, Anniston Automated Flight Service Station issued an alert notice for N95396 a Cessna C-152 which never arrived at the destination airport. On June 28, 1996, at 1400 central daylight time, the aircraft wreckage was located at the 1700 foot level of Horn Mountain. There were no witnesses to the accident. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Information on the airplane is contained in this factual report on page 2 under the data field labeled "Aircraft Information." PERSONNEL INFORMATION Information on the First Pilot is included in this factual report on page 3 under the data file labeled "First Pilot." METOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Weather information is located at data field labeled " Weather information" on page three of this factual report. A review of weather data disclosed that conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice existed at the time of the accident. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site disclosed that, the airplane collided with an eighteen foot section of an antenna installed on top of a U.S. Forest Service fire watch tower. The wreckage rested on a 100 degree magnetic heading and scattered over an area approximately 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. The fire damaged airplane wreckage rested in a wooded area 300 feet north of the fire watch tower. The wreckage examination also disclosed that the airframe center section, cockpit area and the engine compartment were fire damaged; the ground in the immediate vicinity of the airframe was also burned. Debris from the watch tower antenna was located in the main wreckage and some antenna debris was also found several feet north of the main wreckage (see attached wreckage diagram). The engine and propeller assemblies remained attached to the airframe in an upright position. Examination of the powerplant section of the airplane disclosed that the components installed on the accessory section of the engine were destroyed. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise twisting from the tip of the blades inboard approximately mid-span each blade. Examination of the fire damaged wreckage failed to disclose a mechanical problem. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The external examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Kenneth E. Warner at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Tuscalossa, Alabama, on July 1, 1996. There was no soft tissue available for a toxicological screen. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was release to Phillip A. Powell (Insurance Adjustor)

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:45 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN95396
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 108
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 9 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data