Amateur-built TEENIE TWO accident near Guntersville, Alabama, June 11, 1989
On June 11, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TEENIE TWO, registered N8203, was destroyed in an accident near Guntersville, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS, AND A DIRT BANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Guntersville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TEENIE TWO
- Registration
- N8203 · no longer on the register · serial H11359
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 2000 FT MSL OVER HILLY/WOODED TERRAIN, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO A SUITABLE AREA FOR LANDING. HE TRIED TO LAND IN AN OPENING NEAR A HIGHWAY, THEN SAW POWER LINES & AN EMBANKMENT. WHILE AVOIDING OBSTRUCTIONS, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED, THEN WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY GROUND FIRE. THE ACFT WAS MOVED BEFORE AUTHORITIES COULD MAKE AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION.
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: 500 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600CC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 8A1 Guntersville AL at 9:50 am
- Destination: 20A Ononeta AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from ANB, 50 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.