Bainbridge/Decatur County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bainbridge, Georgia 31717
Wednesday, September 17, 1997 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tractor had been sweeping the tarmac most of the morning, and was equipped with an amber strobe light attached to the roll bar and flashing hazard lights on it's fender. All of the lights were found to be in working order when a police officer checked them. The airplane had landed and was taxiing east on the tarmac. The tractor was traveling west tarmac when the accident occurred. The driver of the tractor told the police, '...he was sweeping the tarmac and observed the aircraft exit the taxiway and start towards him...the aircraft made an 'S' turn and came straight at him and the tractor...he was in fear of being hit by the aircraft and tried to get out of the way before the aircraft reached him, but he hit the aircraft trying to get out of the way.' The pilot showed the police officer that he had 'very limited visibility' from the cockpit when he was on the ground. The pilot explained to the police officer that, '...after he left the taxiway and got onto the tarmac he made a left turn so he could look to his right and the a right turn so he could look to his left. He said the tarmac appeared to be clear of any traffic so he straightened the aircraft and continued to travel east...moving very slow while on the tarmac. After straightening the aircraft...[he] said he heard and felt the crash of the tractor and aircraft...he never saw the tractor or the sweeper.' The passenger said, '...he did not see the tractor. His visibility was also limited to the sides of the aircraft.' The pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and his account of the accident are not known.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot to see and avoid the tractor resulting in an on ground collision. A factor in this accident was the limited forward visibility from the cockpit of the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BAINBRIDGE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31717
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BAINBRIDGE/DECATUR COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BGE
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 142
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1790
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3985P
NTSB Number MIA97LA247
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-18A-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18A-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4745
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BILLY HOWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address HWY 27, NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK
Aircraft Owner City BAINBRIDGE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 317
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 --