Mckellar-Sipes Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson, Tennessee 38301
Friday, February 28, 1997 19:01 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After touchdown the pilot transitioned to the taxiway to taxi to the ramp. He did not review the airport diagram due to being familiar with the airport. The pilot stated that while taxing he encountered a heavy rain shower and ground fog. He continued to the ramp following the yellow line; however, his taxispeed was too fast for the weather conditions that existed. He taxied onto the ramp, and was looking outside the airplane for the fixed base operator when his passenger said something. He realized the airplane had traveled off the ramp onto the grass. The airplane collided with a pole before he could apply the brakes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxing. The reduced visibility was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1901
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City JACKSON
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38301
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MCKELLAR-SIPES REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MKL
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 433
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1856 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 433
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 91
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2312
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98991
NTSB Number MIA97LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17276393
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIVIL AIR PATROL INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Aircraft Owner City MAXWELL A.F.B.
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36112
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JWN
Departure City NASHVILLE
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1726
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MKL
Destination City
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --