Plane Crash List

Cessna 172 N5952R

20 November 1992 · Brownsboro, Alabama, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 20 November 1992 at about 02:02 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5952R, operated by Derrick Mitchell, was involved in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 02:02
Classification
Accident
Location
Brownsboro, Alabama, United States
Nearest airport
Moontown (3M5)
Coordinates
34.7192, -86.4808
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N5952R
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Derrick Mitchell
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
ATL93FA025

People

3 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 3 1 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO EVALUATE THE WIND CONDITIONS AND TOOK OFF WITH A TAILWIND WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLISION WITH A TREE ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE DARK NIGHT AND TAILWIND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PILOT ATTEMPTED A VISUAL NIGHT TAKEOFF WITH A TAILWIND. THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED AS IT CLIMBED OUT FROM RUNWAY 27 AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE END OF THE SOD RUNWAY. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE TREE, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ABOUT 200 PLUS FEET BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND INVERTED. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE CARBURETOR EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A COMPOSITE MATERIAL TYPE FLOAT WAS INSTALLED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SERVICED WITH 30 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. ADDITIONALLY ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE DATA AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT FOR A TAILWIND TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N13400
Olympia, Washington, United States Center O Flying Club No injuries -
17 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N4324R
Vancouver, Washington, United States Tabooma Flyers Inc. Minor injuries -
14 Jan 1992 Cessna 172N
N4885G
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
no coordinates
Thomas Kuehn No injuries -
21 Feb 1992 Cessna 172N
N738YY
Orlando, Florida, United States Flight Express, Inc. No injuries -
4 May 1992 Cessna 172N
N5096E
Parkdale, Oregon, United States Vancouver Aviation No injuries -
18 Jul 1992 Cessna 172N
N4500E
Lake Michigan, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
Battle Creek Air Service, Inc. Fatal 4

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Jan 1992 Mosley Hs GN-1
N3202F
Cullman, Alabama, United States Sharp, Milford G. Serious injuries -
22 Jan 1992 Cessna 172I
N35308
Gadsden, Alabama, United States Liberty Aviation, Inc. No injuries -
11 Mar 1992 Cessna 310R
N87355
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States Tuscaloosa Aviation, Inc. No injuries -
16 Mar 1992 Kolb MARK III
N101AB
Titus, Alabama, United States Hauck, John R. No injuries -
14 Apr 1992 Guy Whisenant SKYBOLT
N12TJ
Gadsden, Alabama, United States Owens, Donald W. No injuries -
19 Apr 1992 Piper PA-24-180
N5112P
Moontown, Alabama, United States Akins, Robert D. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States