ATL87LA149

Factual narrative

THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES AND A HILLSIDE SHORTLY AFTER A NIGHT TAKEOFF FROM RWY 33 WHILE THE CFI WAS FLYING THE ACFT FROM THE RT SEAT. THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY THE PATTERN TO DEMONSTRATE A LDG TO HIS STUDENT. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE TERRAIN AHEAD OF THE ACFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLEW A HDG OF 300 DEGREES USING THE DG. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY HIT TREES AND CAME TO REST NOSE-DOWN ON A HILL ABOUT 1/2 MILE DUE NORTH OF THE ARPT. THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE KNEW THE DG HAD A TENDENCY TO PRECESS EXCESSIVELY AND THAT HE HAD RESET IT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. POST-CRASH TESTING OF THE DG REVEALED THAT IT FAILED TO OPERATE WITHIN MFR SPECS. TOTAL REPORTED OPERATING TIME ON THE UNIT SINCE NEW WAS 1460 HRS. THE ARPT WAS OBSERVED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTS ALONG ONLY THE FIRST 1000 FT OF THE RWY. THE CFI REPORTED THAT IT WAS ACCEPTED LOCAL PRACTICE TO DEPART ONLY ON RWY 15 AT NIGHT DUE TO THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES IN THE HILLY TERRAIN TO THE NORTH OF THE ARPT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12