Piper PA-22T accident near Headland, Alabama, September 5, 1992
On September 5, 1992 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22T, registered N8098C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Headland, Alabama (Headland Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EVALUATION OF WIND CONDITIONS AND SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A GUSTING TAIL WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1992 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Headland, Alabama · Headland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22T · all PA-22Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8098C · no longer on the register · serial 22-2244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER, ALSO A PILOT, WERE CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS TO RUNWAY 27. ON THE THIRD LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED A LEFT DRIFT OFF THE RUNWAY; THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE DRIFT, BUT HE ALSO FAILED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK. THE PREVAILING WIND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT WAS OUT OF THE EAST GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
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: 204 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J6 at 5:50 pm
- Destination: 0J6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DHN, 30 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.