Piper PA-28R-180 and amateur-built War F4V mid-air collision near Pell City, Alabama, October 4, 2003
On October 4, 2003 at about 9:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28R-180 (N70SR) and amateur-built War F4V (N71723), were involved in a mid-air collision near Pell City, Alabama (St Colair County Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Visual lookout not maintained by the pilot of the other aircraft.
The pilot's failure to follow VFR Approach procedures and to maintain visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2003 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · St Colair County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N70SR · registry record · serial 28R-30122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built War F4V
- Registration
- N71723 · no longer on the register · serial 239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28R-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Piper PA-28R-180 (Arrow), N70SR, and a Charles, WAR F4V (Corsair), N71723, experimental amateur built collided in-flight prior to touchdown at the St Clair County Airport, in Pell City, Alabama. According to a CFII/MEI he had just left the main ramp area and was taxiing to runway 20. He heard the Arrow announce he was inbound for landing, and later announced that he was entering the downwind for runway 20. The CFII stated that he was following the homebuilt Corsair, to the hold short line of runway 20. After the Corsair took off the CFII completed his runup, and heard the Arrow announce that he was entering a left base for runway 20. The CFII saw the airplane on base, and heard him announce his turn to final. As the airplane was established on final, he noticed the Corsair, low and turning final for runway 20. The Corsair was about 200 feet agl and outside of the treeline. The Corsair's right wing hit the Arrow's left main landing gear at about 100 feet agl, and within the treeline. Both aircraft remained in control and landed
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built War F4V final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Piper PA-28R-180 (Arrow), N70SR, and a Charles, WAR F4V (Corsair), N71723, experimental amateur built collided in-flight prior to touchdown at the St Clair County Airport, in Pell City, Alabama. According to a CFII/MEI he had just left the main ramp area and was taxiing to runway 20. He heard the Arrow announce he was inbound for landing, and later announced that he was entering the downwind for runway 20. The CFII stated that he was following the homebuilt Corsair, to the hold short line of runway 20. After the Corsair took off the CFII completed his runup, and heard the Arrow announce that he was entering a left base for runway 20. The CFII saw the airplane on base, and heard him announce his turn to final. As the airplane was established on final, he noticed the Corsair, low and turning final for runway 20. The Corsair was about 200 feet agl and outside of the treeline. The Corsair's right wing hit the Arrow's left main landing gear at about 100 feet agl, and within the treeline. Both aircraft remained in control and landed.
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 for the Piper PA-28R-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 438 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EET Shelby County AL at 8:45 pm
- Destination: PLR Pell City AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,002 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ANB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built War F4V from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLR Pell City AL at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,002 ft by 80 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N70SR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.