Bowman Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Saturday, December 30, 1995 3:29 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an attempt to make a night landing at an unfamiliar airport, the pilot '...saw only blue lights...' and decided to execute a go-around. He added full throttle, but did not retract the landing gear. He said that he did not remember having any flaps down. The pilot reported that he entered a left turn and '...pulled too far aft on the yoke.' The pilot stated that he saw the stall warning light come on and felt the left wing drop. In his attempt to recover, the pilot pushed forward on the yoke to increase the airspeed. After lowering the nose of the airplane, the pilot saw obstruction(s) ahead, but was unable to avoid colliding with a utility pole and a supporting guide cable. The pilot stated that he had no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to impact. Postaccident examination of the damaged airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, loss of altitude, and subsequent collision with obstructions (utility pole and supporting cable).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 329
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LOUISVILLE
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40205
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BOWMAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LOU
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 547
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 351 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 547
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2029
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 30 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 415
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7676J
NTSB Number BFO96FA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-31076
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 18 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 4541
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLUE SKIES AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 46 KIPLING PLAZA
Aircraft Owner City CLEARWATER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34630
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIATORS FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 451 8TH AVE SE
Operator City ST. PETERSBURG
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33701
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TLH
Departure City TALLAHASSEE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LOU
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
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 24
Runway Length 4312
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --