Amateur-built ROSE PARAKEET accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, June 2, 1995
On June 2, 1995 at about 10:40 pm local time, a amateur-built ROSE PARAKEET, registered N2125, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight. Factors in the accident were the previous wing damage, and the obstruction of air flow over the aileron.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1995 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROSE PARAKEET ROSE PARAK
- Registration
- N2125 · registry record · serial 001
- 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 HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING A FLIGHT THE PREVIOUS WEEK. HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A RUNWAY SIGN DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT. HE SAID THE ONLY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS A SCUFFED MARK ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT LOWER WING. HE DID NOT HAVE AN AIRFRAME MECHANIC LOOK AT THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT. DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HE SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL UNTIL ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY ROLLED TO THE LEFT,AND YAWED TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID THAT HE COULD MAINTAIN STRAIGHT FLIGHT WITH FULL DISPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROLS TO THE RIGHT, BUT THAT HE COULD NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE MADE A SHALLOW LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT COULD NOT ARREST THE TURN WITHOUT REDUCING POWER TO REDUCE TORQUE. AFTER REDUCING POWER, HE COULD NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT, AND CRASHED INTO THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AN OLD FRACTURE IN THE LEFT LOWER WING LEADING EDGE BOW, AND PIECES OF THE BOW WERE MISSING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,814 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 3,708 as pilot in command; 1,160 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 202 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1994; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 755 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SCD Sylacauga AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:12 pm from TCL, 1 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.