Cessna 172M accident near Harvest, Alabama, July 28, 1993
On July 28, 1993 at about 2:52 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13738, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harvest, Alabama (Epps Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1993 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Harvest, Alabama · Epps Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13738 · no longer on the register · serial 17262984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A LANDING AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRFIELD. HE STATED THAT, AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE AND HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING AND GO-AROUND. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH WAS SO HIGH AND STEEP, THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO MAKE A LOW PASS AND CIRCLE TO LAND. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT LAND ON THE LAST 1/3 OF THE GRASS RUNWAY, SAW THE TIRES SKID ON THE GRASS MOMENTARILY, AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WENT TO FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. HE STATED THE NOSE THEN ROSE SLIGHTLY, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED TO THE LEFT, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 343 hours in all; 263 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 244 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,453 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1993; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HVL Huntsville AL at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 2,300 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from HVL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.