Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Collinsville, Alabama, October 9, 1994
On October 9, 1994 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N33EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Collinsville, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT CONTINUED VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1994 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Collinsville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N33EZ · registry record · serial 994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE THE FLIGHT OF TWO AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KENTUCKY, THE PILOTS RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, AND VISUAL FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE WAS AWARE OF THE FRONTAL SYSTEM, AND THE LOW CEILINGS. AS THE FLIGHT OF TWO APPROACHED THE FRONT, THE LEAD AIRCRAFT CONTINUED INTO INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE TRAIL AIRPLANE DIVERTED INTO ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE LEAD AIRPLANE NEVER ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AFTER AN EXTENDED SEARCH, THE FIRE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT THE 1450 LEVEL OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2I3 Falls Of Rough KY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ANB Anniston AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:30 pm from GAD, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.