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ATL83FKJ05

1983-07-09 · GADSDEN, Alabama, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GAD

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A 70 DEGREE DIVE WHILE TAKING PART IN AN AIR SHOW AS A SPOTTER PLANE. THE ACFT HAD DROPPED ONE SMOKE GRENDADE AND WAS ORBITING TO DROP ANOTHER WHEN IT TURNED LEFT AND PITCHED DOWN. ACCORDING TO AN INSPECTION GUIDE FOR THIS ACFT, BOOTS ARE REQUIRED AROUND THE FRONT AND REAR CONTROL STICKS AT THE CABIN FLOOR. WITNESSES STATED THAT BOOTS WERE NEVER INSTALLED IN THIS ACFT. ANOTHER WITNESS SAID HE HELPED THE ACFT OWNER REMOVE BAGGAGE, TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FROM THE ACFT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ONE BAG OF TOOLS WAS LEFT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT TOOLS AND A METAL BOX CONTAINING A 1/4 INCH DRIVE SOCKET SET WERE FOUND AROUND THE FRONT CONTROL STICK YOKE. THE PILOTS BODY WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_ATL83FKJ05.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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