Cessna 172 accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, November 20, 1992
On November 20, 1992 at about 2:02 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5952R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama (Moontown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO EVALUATE THE WIND CONDITIONS AND TOOK OFF WITH A TAILWIND WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLISION WITH A TREE ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE DARK NIGHT AND TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1992 · about 2:02 am local time
- Place
- Brownsboro, Alabama · Moontown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5952R · no longer on the register · serial 172-83621
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PILOT ATTEMPTED A VISUAL NIGHT TAKEOFF WITH A TAILWIND. THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED AS IT CLIMBED OUT FROM RUNWAY 27 AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE END OF THE SOD RUNWAY. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE TREE, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ABOUT 200 PLUS FEET BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND INVERTED. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE CARBURETOR EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A COMPOSITE MATERIAL TYPE FLOAT WAS INSTALLED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SERVICED WITH 30 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. ADDITIONALLY ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE DATA AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT FOR A TAILWIND TAKEOFF.
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: 85 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,410 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 17, 1992; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M5 at 2:01 am
- Destination: 3M5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,180 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from HSV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.