Cessna 172 accident near St. Elmo, Alabama, June 16, 1993
On June 16, 1993 at about 11:18 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8322B, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Elmo, Alabama (St. Elmo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE ENTIRE RUNWAY FOR THE TAKEOFF, AND THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1993 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- St. Elmo, Alabama · St. Elmo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8322B · no longer on the register · serial 36122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF ON THE 4,000 FOOT RUNWAY (1,500 FEET REMAINING). A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP, RIGHT HAND TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THEN HE HEARD THE CRASH. HE ALSO REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE RUNNING UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES LOCATED ABOUT 1,000 FEET PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED POSITIVE FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY EXISTED. NO EVIDENCE OF A POWERPLANT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY EVENTS REGARDING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2R5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,980 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MOB, 11 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.