Whitehurst Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bolivar, Tennessee 38008
Wednesday, August 16, 1995 12:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was on his second supervised solo flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left, departed the runway, and collided with a ditch. The student reported that the nose wheel began shimmying during the takeoff, and that he was unable to stop the airplane's drift. According to the instructor, who was observing the takeoff, the student delayed reducing the engine power when the airplane began drifting off of the runway. The owner reported that the nose wheel had been inspected by a mechanic on the same day, prior to the flight. A postaccident examination of the nose gear assembly did not reveal any deficiencies that would have affected its operation prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his improper use of the throttle.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BOLIVAR
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38008
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WHITEHURST FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M08
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 499
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID MKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1435
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1754
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44784
NTSB Number ATL95LA158
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 287525004
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Jun 30 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 4421
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK FAIRLESS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 113 SKYRIDGE DR
Aircraft Owner City JACKSON
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38305
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALEC S. BARI
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 475 FOWLER RD
Operator City BEECH BLUFF
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38313
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 MKL
Departure City JACKSON
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code M08
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 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 4004
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --