Piper PA-28-151 accident near Creola, Alabama, March 4, 1990
On March 4, 1990 at about 5:19 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N991DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creola, Alabama. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE COMPLETED BEFORE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1990 · about 5:19 pm local time
- Place
- Creola, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N991DB · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TEST FLYING AN AIRPLANE FOLLOWING A NUMBER THREE CYLINDER CHANGE. ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON A HIGHWAY MEDIAN LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT CENTER. A POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A PIECE OF EXHAUST VALVE LODGED IN THE NUMBER ONE PISTON HEAD. ANOTHER VALVE FRAGMENT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE MUFFLER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER CHANGE WAS THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUSLY FAILED NUMBER THREE EXHAUST VALVE AND SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. AN ASSUMPTION WAS MADE THAT THE FRAGMENTS FROM THE FAILED VALVE HAD EXITED THE ENGINE VIA THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGED THE CYLINDER, BUT DID NOT COMPLETE THE REPAIR DUE TO A LACK OF TIME. THE PILOT FINISHED THE REPAIR, TEST RAN THE ENGINE, AND FLEW THE AIRPLANE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS NOT CERTIFIED AIRWORTHY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
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: 108 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,356 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1990; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:08 pm from MOB, 18 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.