The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
GENEVA COUNTY, Alabama (WDHN) — On Thursday, a federal investigative team examined the wreckage of an aircraft that went down east of the Geneva Municipal Airport on Wednesday night.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Location: Geneva, Alabama
Accident Number: ERA21LA347
Date and Time: September 1, 2021, 17:00 Local
Registration: N1225G
Aircraft: Quad City Challenger
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 1, 2021, about 1700 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Challenger II airplane, N1225G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Geneva, Alabama. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, he was adjusting the engine’s carburation system prior to the accident flight. After takeoff, the pilot remained in the airport traffic pattern. Subsequently, the pilot reduced engine power while turning onto the base leg of the traffic pattern. As the pilot turned onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, he attempted to increase engine power, but the engine “quit.” The pilot made several attempts to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The airplane descended and collided with the roof of a shed.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site and confirmed structural damage to the airframe.
The airplane was recovered for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Quad City
Registration: N1225G
Model/Series: Challenger II
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEDN, 360 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C /23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4600 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots / , 250°
Lowest Ceiling: Unknown
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.8 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Geneva, AL
Destination: Geneva, AL
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 31.052625,-85.868944 (est)
Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms says he first received a report of a plane crashing into the Dollar General store at the intersection of State Highways 27 and 85.
But fortunately, the aircraft missed the store by about 50 yards and went down into a nearby barn.
The unnamed pilot from the Dothan area received only cuts and bruises, nothing worse.
The plane is an experimental Quad City Challenger II.
Investigators are working to determine a cause for the mishap.
“Nobody was hurt, the plane had a little bit of damage, and like I say, as far as emergency personnel responded well and quickly to it,” Helms said. “Just glad nobody was hurt.”
Sheriff Helms says the plane going down could have been a real tragedy, but fortunately, neither the pilot nor anyone on the ground was injured.
The more likely cause of the accident was the improper decision to abort takeoff with insufficient runway remaining. More than likely a warning or indication rather than anti skid failure. There have been many incidents and accidents resulted from improper, for many reasons, aborted takeoff. Remember the hawker accident a few years back. Regardless, best to wait for NTSB to do their jobs.
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