Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Greenville, Alabama, May 11, 1985
On May 11, 1985 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N477M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Alabama (Greenville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 11, 1985 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Alabama · Greenville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N477M · registry record · serial 0770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL APCH FOR A FULL STOP, 3-POINT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE & SHAKE LATERALLY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY A TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY, BUT AT FIRST, HE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT CAUSED THE SHAKING. THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING, BUT IT WAS TOO SLOW FOR RUDDER EFFECTIVENSS, SO THE PLT USED DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING. THE ACFT THEN SWERVED OFF THE RWY & FLIPPED OVER. AN EXAM & DISASSEMBLY OF THE TAILWHEEL DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 1,190 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A3 Greenville AL at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,790 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.