Aeronca O-58B accident near Geiger, Alabama, September 22, 1983
On September 22, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Aeronca O-58B, registered N46929, was destroyed in an accident near Geiger, Alabama (Geiger 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
- September 22, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Geiger, Alabama · Geiger · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca O-58B
- Registration
- N46929 · no longer on the register · serial 13834
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT CIRCLE AT 300-400 FT AGL AND THEN DO A SNAP ROLL. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A SPIN AND SPUN ABOUT 2 TURNS BEFORE IMPACT. THE WITNESS SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO PERFORM A SINGLE TURN 'SNAP ROLL'. HE SAID HE REMEMBERS ENTERING THE ROLL BUT HAS NO FURTHER RECOLLECTION. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE HAD DONE THIS MANEUVER ABOUT 200 TIMES IN THE PAST. ON THIS OCCASION THE MANEUVER WAS DONE INTO THE SETTING SUN.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Geiger AL
- Destination: 28M Scooba MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from NMM, 40 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.