Amateur-built 512 accident near Parrish, Alabama, November 14, 1987
On November 14, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 512, registered N512FC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parrish, Alabama. 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
- November 14, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Parrish, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 512
- Registration
- N512FC · registry record · serial 512
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 5500 FT, THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK THE LEFT WING. DURING THE RESULTING FORCED LANDING, THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER TO A SELECTED FIELD. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT WOULD BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE BELOW 100 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE BEST GLIDE SPEED WAS 77 MPH (BEFORE IT WAS DAMAGED). HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & MADE A LANDING APPROACH AT 120 MPH. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A CLOTHES LINE & TREE BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,860 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 2,312 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 23, 1987; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aberdeen MS at 4:22 pm
- Destination: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.