Alon A-2 accident near Jonesboro, Georgia, April 1, 1990
On April 1, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Alon A-2, registered N37BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jonesboro, Georgia (South Expressway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesboro, Georgia · South Expressway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon A-2 · all A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N37BH · registry record · serial A-101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY & THEN QUIT. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE IN A CLEARING ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE & ALLOWED IT TO MUSH INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH A MIXTURE OF 100LL & AUTOMOTIVE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CHECKED NORMALLY BEFORE TAKE OFF. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS POSITIONED FOR TAKE OFF ON THE RUNWAY. THE AUTOMOTIVE FUEL STC INDICATES THAT CARBURETOR ICE WILL FORM EARLIER WITH AUTO FUEL, UNDER CONDUCIVE ATOMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE TAKE OFF.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A7 at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,980 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from ATL, 8 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.