Cessna 175A accident near Fairhope, Alabama, November 20, 2001
On November 20, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N7095E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairhope, Alabama (Klumpp Field). 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to check wind conditions prior to landing resulting in a landing with a tailwind, on a wet runway, and damage to the airplane during a ground loop in an attempt to stop the airplane before over running the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fairhope, Alabama · Klumpp Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N7095E · no longer on the register · serial 56595
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he departed Fairhope with a planned destination of Monroeville, Alabama. The winds were calm during departure and he took off to the south. After flying about 5 miles toward the destination, the weather became bad and he elected to return to the departure airport. He approached to land to the south and during approach wind gust from the north increased his touchdown speed. The runway was also wet do to recent rain showers and he had poor braking action. About midway down the runway he realized the airplane was not stopping and he did not have enough runway to abort the landing. He saw cars driving on the highway at the end of the runway. When he reached the end of the runway, he applied full left rudder and full engine power, in an attempt to ground loop the airplane. The airplane turned 90 degrees to the left and slid sideways. The airplane slid into a ditch and the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to a stop with the right wing hanging over the highway.
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: 464 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 417 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,422 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2001; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AL78 Fairhope AL at 1:50 pm
- Destination: AL78 Fairhope AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from BFM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.