Accident Overview
On August 27, 2022, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, registration N76527, sustained substantial damage following an accident near Slocomb, Alabama. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot and Witness Accounts
The pilot stated that after performing a preflight inspection and engine runup, he departed and flew near the airport for approximately one hour. He then landed, checked for leaks (the engine had recently been overhauled), and repeated this process several times. Following this, he refueled the airplane using aviation fuel from multiple gas containers.
A witness, the pilot's son, observed the subsequent takeoff. He reported that the takeoff roll seemed "sluggish" and that the engine sounded "weak." The pilot noted that the engine was not producing adequate power, but it was too late to abort the takeoff.
Immediately after rotation during the initial climb, the aircraft appeared to climb more slowly than usual as it proceeded westward toward a line of trees approximately 70 feet high. The pilot reported that while attempting to clear the trees, he sensed the airplane stall. Shortly after reaching the treetops, the right wing dropped, and the airplane descended into the trees, disappearing from the witness's view. The witness drove to the tree line and found the aircraft suspended in the canopy about 30 feet above ground level. At that point, the airplane was catching fire, and the pilot had exited by jumping out.
Mechanical Examination
According to the airport owner, who was also a mechanic with inspection authorization, he had recently overhauled the airplane's engine and installed it on the airframe. After installation, he test-ran the engine for several hours with no anomalous behavior. The pilot had conducted four or five flights around the airport without any discrepancies. The mechanic reported that the engine had operated about five hours since overhaul when the accident occurred.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. The aircraft impacted trees and became suspended about 30 feet off the ground on a heading of approximately 270° magnetic, 600 feet from the end of the turf runway. The fuel tanks were breached during impact, and a post-crash fire consumed the cockpit and fuselage, while the empennage remained in the trees. The engine was exposed to fire and thermally damaged but had relatively little impact damage. The carburetor heat was found in the off position; the carburetor parts and components were undamaged and clear of water or contaminants. All spark plugs were checked and found to be in good condition. Both magnetos were damaged by the post-impact fire, with internal components destroyed and unable to produce spark. A borescope examination of all cylinders revealed no defects or anomalous findings.
Weather Conditions
The weather at the time of the accident was not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.