Amateur-built Venture accident near Fort Payne, Alabama, April 11, 2003
On April 11, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Venture, registered CGDJF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Payne, Alabama (Isbell Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Payne, Alabama · Isbell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Venture
- Registration
- CGDJF · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the landing roll, as the nose wheel touched down the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right brake and the airplane veered off the left side of runway 04, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the propeller blades were bent, and damage to the tail and both wings. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any flight control or mechanical malfunctions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2002; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-55OG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C22 Centre AL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 4A9 Fort Payne AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from CHA, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.