Siai-Marchetti F260B accident near Meridianville, Alabama, August 23, 2000
On August 23, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Siai-Marchetti F260B, registered N800RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meridianville, Alabama (Madison County Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which resulted in fuel contamination going undetected, which resulted in a forced landing and substantial damage to the aircraft during the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Meridianville, Alabama · Madison County Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti F260B
- Registration
- N800RH · registry record · serial 11-02
- 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 upon departure, while climbing through an altitude of about 50 to 70 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly ceased operating, with no prior warning. He further stated that he switched the fuel tank selector switch from the right fuel tank to the left one, but the engine did not restart, so he executed a forced landing in an open area. During the emergency landing the engine suddenly started, but the left wing and tail section struck a metal structure, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Witnesses stated that they observed the takeoff, and the engine sounded as if it was developing full power but shortly after takeoff it sounded rough for a brief period, and then ceased operating. The FAA inspector who conducted the post accident examination said that he checked the airplane's fuel tanks and found 1/4 inch of water in the right tank drain. The inspector further stated that the engine was operated for a period of about 5 minutes and it operated normally with no loss of power.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,461 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,198 as pilot in command; 280 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2000; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,430 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO540D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M82
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from HSV, 18 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.