Fairchild 24G accident near Andalusia, Alabama, January 28, 1998
On January 28, 1998 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Fairchild 24G, registered N16866, was destroyed in an accident near Andalusia, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power while in cruise flight caused by a contaminated fuel supply and the subsequent inflight collision with trees and unsuitable terrain during the emergency descent and landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 1998 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Andalusia, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild 24G · all 24Gs on the register
- Registration
- N16866 · no longer on the register · serial 2900
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The recently restored antique airplane impacted trees on the bank of a river within a densely forested national forest while being ferried to the restorer for some last minute detailing prior to a sale. There were no witnesses, and initial notification came from a fellow pilot when the accident pilot failed to show up at a predetermined meeting place. Subsequent examination of aircraft components revealed the propeller was developing little power on impact with trees, and the fuel system contained water and corrosion contamination.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,645 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1997; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner SS50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2R4 Milton FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PRN Greenville AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from GZH, 22 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.