Amateur-built II accident near Asheville, Alabama, October 28, 2023
On October 28, 2023 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1971 amateur-built II, registered N71CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Asheville, Alabama (Dugger'S Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during initial climb after an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2023 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Asheville, Alabama · Dugger'S Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II, built 1971
- Registration
- N71CB · no longer on the register · serial CB-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land on a constrained turf runway. A witness described that the airplane approached the runway too fast, landed long, and bounced several times. The pilot subsequently aborted the landing with limited runway remaining. The witness described that the airplane “staggered into the air” at a high pitch angle with the wings rocking left and right. The pilot described that the airplane’s nose “dropped” before it impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the aborted landing and subsequent initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 654 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 555 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,856 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 26, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 1,510 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCD Sylacuaga AL at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10/2, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KGAD, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGAD 281656Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM CLR 26/16 A3021
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.