What happened
On January 20, 2012, an Aero Vodochody L39C aircraft, registration N16RZ, crashed in a wooded area near Rainbow City, Alabama. The flight departed from Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (GAD) at approximately 18:17 CST, en route to Burlington, North Carolina.
Before takeoff, the pilot obtained an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance from Birmingham Approach Control. The clearance instructed the pilot to climb to 5,000 feet on a heading of 140 degrees. Shortly after departure, a witness on the ground reported hearing two loud explosions. Another pilot at the airport observed the departure and heard a loud boom shortly thereafter.
The aircraft collided with the tops of trees 60 to 80 feet tall in a steep, nose-down attitude with the left wing low. The impact occurred approximately 1.1 miles south-southwest of the airport in a swampy area. The collision resulted in a postcrash fire and 1 fatality.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the aircraft had struck trees on a heading of 070 degrees magnetic. The nose section and cockpit were buried seven feet below the ground surface. The engine assembly separated from the airframe and was located 121 feet from the initial impact point. The investigation found that the landing gear was in the retracted position at the time of impact.
Examination of the engine revealed that several first and second-stage fan blades were fractured, and various compressor blades were bent opposite the direction of rotation. However, postcrash examination of the wreckage revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with a 300-foot overcast ceiling and 1 mile visibility in mist. The area was experiencing heavy fog and saturated conditions.