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ATL90LA184

1990-09-30 · DOTHAN, Alabama, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DHN

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE STUDENT PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USAGE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, PRESENCE OF CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. WHEN CLEARED FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE (RUNWAY 13), HE ERRONEOUSLY TURNED ONTO RUNWAY 31 AND STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF 060 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, AND THE APPLICATION OF RIGHT RUDDER AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, HE ATTEMPTED OF LIFT OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_ATL90LA184.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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