Cessna T210L accident near Luverne, Alabama, February 5, 1982
On February 5, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N123WL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Luverne, Alabama (Frank Sikes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Luverne, Alabama · Frank Sikes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L, amateur-built · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N123WL · registry record · serial 21060086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT DURING TAKEOFF AFTER THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND STARTED A CROSSWIND TURN. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED REARWARD DURING LANDING ROLL IN A SOFT TERRACED PASTURE AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED TO AN INVERTED POSITION. TWO OUNCES OF WATER WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK USED DURING TAKEOFF EVEN THOUGH FUEL CONTINUED TO DRAIN FROM THE TANK 24 HOURS BEFORE THE WINGS WERE REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTEDLY PARKED OUTDOORS DURING HEAVY RAINFALL THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC WHO WITNESSED THE DEPARTURE STATED THE PILOT DID NOT CONDUCT AN ENGINE RUN-UP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,026 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 04A Luverne AL at 11:30 am
- Destination: Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 136°F (58°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.