Amateur-built GLASAIR RG-2 accident near Elberta, Alabama, April 26, 1995
On April 26, 1995 at about 10:49 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR RG-2, registered N86XL, was destroyed in an accident near Elberta, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1995 · about 10:49 pm local time
- Place
- Elberta, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR RG-2 GLASAIR R
- Registration
- N86XL · no longer on the register · serial 1086
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN BY WITNESSES IN WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS A SPIRAL. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND BURNED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 40 FEET WIDE AND 75 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE SAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, AND THE GROUND AROUND IT SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF FORWARD OR LATERAL POST IMPACT AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER ONE FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS BLOCKED. NO OTHER SYSTEM PROBLEMS WERE NOTED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.
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: 587 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1994; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PVT at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from NPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.