Springfield Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springfield, Tennessee 37172
Tuesady, July 16, 1991 8:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE PA-24 REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND SET UP FOR LANDING TO RUNWAY 3. HE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE PATTERN. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, HE SAW A PIPER J-3 ON THE RUNWAY, OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE EXECUTED A RIGHT, CLIMBING GO-AROUND. HE THEN OBSERVED A TOWER IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND NEAR MID FIELD. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT OF THE PA-24 CLAIMED THAT THE J-3 WAS BACK-TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE J-3 WAS ACTUALLY ON LANDING ROLLOUT (RWY 22) WHEN FIRST OBSERVED BY THE PA-24 PILOT. THE J-3 PILOT DID NOT SEE THE PA-24 UNTIL AFTER THE GO-AROUND WAS PERFORMED. THE J-3, A HIGH-WING AIRPLANE, WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE EXECUTING A GO-AROUND, RESULTING IN THE STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO VISUALLY DETECT THE J-3 IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 805
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SPRINGFIELD
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37172
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M91
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 708
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1434
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44302
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8739P
NTSB Number ATL91LA135
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-24-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-260
Aircraft Serial Number 24-4190
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOGAN LESH COMMUNICATIONS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1043 SOUTH THIRD STREET
Aircraft Owner City MEMPHIS
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38106
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LOGAN LESH COMMUNICATIONS, INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1043 SOUTH THIRD STREET
Operator City MEMPHIS
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38106
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code M53
Departure City HUMBOLDT
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --