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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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November 19, 1982 · Mooney M20J · N7201Y

Sardis, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 19, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Sardis, AL
Aircraft
Mooney M20J
Tail Number
N7201Y
Operator
Lazy 8 Flying Club
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL83FA036

The aircraft was on an IFR flight from Memphis, TN to Selma, AL. During arrival, he was cleared for an NDB approach to the Craig Airport. At that time, the weather was reported as measured 400 ft overcast, visibility 1/2 mi with fog. The weather minimums for the approach were 700 ft ceiling, 3/4 mi visibility. The pilot reported that he was going to try the approach, and if he did not make it, he would go to Montgomery, AL. The controller lost contact with the aircraft after the approach was started (at dusk). A witness reported seeing the aircraft before it crashed. He stated that he saw the aircraft bank to miss a 50 ft tree, then disappear into the fog. This witness estimated that the ceiling and visibility were both about 100 ft. Two mercury vapor security lights were installed on the farm where the plane crashed. They were located between the final approach fix and the runway. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact aircraft malfunctions.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM MEMPHIS, TN TO SELMA, AL. DURING ARRIVAL, HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN NDB APPROACH TO THE CRAIG AIRPORT. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS MEASURED 400 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG. THE WEATHER MINIMUMS FOR THE APPROACH WERE 700 FT CEILING, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY THE APPROACH, AND IF HE DID NOT MAKE IT, HE WOULD GO TO MONTGOMERY, AL. THE CONTROLLER LOST CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE APPROACH WAS STARTED (AT DUSK). A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT CRASHED. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT BANK TO MISS A 50 FT TREE, THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE FOG. THIS WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WERE BOTH ABOUT 100 FT. TWO MERCURY VAPOR SECURITY LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE FARM WHERE THE PLANE CRASHED. THEY WERE LOCATED BETWEEN THE FINAL APPROACH FIX AND THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:40 CST
Nearest AirportCraig Field (0nm N)
Runway32
Runway Length8002 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20J
Tail NumberN7201Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorLazy 8 Flying Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A3B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
CeilingOvercast 100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data