Amateur-built LONG E-Z accident near Pell City, Alabama, September 5, 1983
On September 5, 1983 at about 10:35 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG E-Z, registered N82CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama (St. Clair County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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 5, 1983 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · St. Clair County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG E-Z
- Registration
- N82CJ · no longer on the register · serial 377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF IN HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS TRYING TO TAKE OFF BEFORE THE HEAVY RAIN SO HE PICKED A RWY POINTING INTO CLEAR WEATHER BUT WITH A TAILWIND. THE TAILWIND INCREASED DURING THE TAKEOFF WITH GUSTS TO 39 KTS. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 500 YARDS OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY.
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
- Flight time: 1,755 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 1,617 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1983; 115 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 28 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from ANB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.