Globe GC-1D accident near Brewton, Alabama, October 28, 1991
On October 28, 1991 at about 9:57 pm local time, a Globe GC-1D, registered N78006, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brewton, Alabama (Municipal 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
A BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL VENT SYSTEM WHICH PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM TOPPING OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FUEL VENT SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1991 · about 9:57 pm local time
- Place
- Brewton, Alabama · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1D · all GC-1Ds on the register
- Registration
- N78006 · registry record · serial 2006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE RAN OUT OF FUEL AND CRASHED SHORT OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. PRIOR TO DEPARTING HOMER, THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD TOPPED OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. HOWEVER, DURING POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, NO FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM; THERE WAS NO FUEL SPILLAGE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATIONS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DISCLOSED THE FUEL VENT LINE FROM THE RIGHT TANK WAS BLOCKED AND PREVENTED A FULL COMPLIMENT OF FUEL (APPROXIMATELY 9 GALLONS) FROM BEING PUMPED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE BLOCKAGE WAS 18 INCHES AFT THE RIGHT TANK AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE VENT SYSTEM. LATER MODELS OF THE SWIFT INCORPORATED A VENT SYSTEM VOID OF LOW POINTS AND LESS SUBJECT TO DEBRIS ACCUMULATION.
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: 300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,177 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 21, 1991; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SF4 Homer LA at 7:08 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 5,135 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from MOB, 45 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.