Anderson Aircraft Corp. TIERRA II 1984 accident near Smith Station, Alabama, June 14, 1986
On June 14, 1986 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Anderson Aircraft Corp. TIERRA II 1984, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N5291Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smith Station, Alabama (Smith Station Light airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 14, 1986 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Smith Station, Alabama · Smith Station Light · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Anderson Aircraft Corp. TIERRA II 1984 TIERRA II, amateur-built
- Registration
- N5291Y · no longer on the register · serial 21330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT'S ENGINE LOST PWR SHORTLY AFTER T/O AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN SOME SAPLINGS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE NEGLECTED TO USE THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP DURING THE T/O AND SUBSEQUENT PWR LOSS. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED THE PUMP ON THE HOME-BUILT ACFT FOR USE DURING HOT WX OPS, BECAUSE OF PRIOR PWR LOSSES EXPERIENCED IN HOT WX USING ONLY THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE TEMP AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT TO BE 85 DEG F. THE PLT ALSO NOTED THAT THE ACFT FUEL TANK WAS MOUNTED SEVERAL FEET BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ENGINE, AND THAT AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 251 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1985; 30 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AL56 at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from CSG, 7 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.