St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cahokia, Illinois 62206
Saturday, February 6, 1999 15:41 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The newly certificated private pilot was cleared for a touch and go. The controller then stated '...make this a full stop I'll call your departure roll.' The pilot stated he did not understand what the controller meant, but he did not question the clearance. He stated he intended on making a full stop and turning off onto the taxiway. When nearing the end of the runway the controller cleared the pilot for takeoff. The pilot applied power then realized he did not have sufficient runway remaining for a takeoff. He reduced power, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway where it contacted a hole in the terrain. The ATC Handbook states the phraseology 'stop-and-go' should be used for spacing and sequencing traffic.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper decision to initiate the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining. A factor associated with the accident was pilot's failure to obtain clarification from the controller regarding the clearance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1541
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CAHOKIA
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62206
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ST. LOUIS DOWNTOWN-PARKS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CPS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 413
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1542 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CPS
Elevation of weather observation facility 413
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1515
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 9 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 917
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N544PC
NTSB Number CHI99LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Socata
Aircraft Model TB 9 TAMPICO
Aircraft Series Identifier TB 9 TAMPI
Aircraft Serial Number 1643
Certified Max Gross Weight 2338
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 1842
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARKS COLLEGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 56907
Aircraft Owner City ST, LOUIS
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63156
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DEC
Departure City DECATUR
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CPS
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30R
Runway Length 3990
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --