An amateur-built aircraft accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, March 2, 1982
On March 2, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a an amateur-built aircraft, registered N37WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 2, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsboro, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- An amateur-built aircraft
- Registration
- N37WS · no longer on the register · serial WS101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL QUANTITY GUAGE. BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL AND ESTIMATED THAT THE TANK WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL. AFTER RETURNING FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING A TURN TO FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. UNABLE TO SAFELY LAND ON THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 356 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 308 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brownsboro AL
- Destination: Brownsboro AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.