Cooper Farms Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morristown, Tennessee 37815
Sunday, October 20, 1991 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD FLOWN AROUND THE LOCAL AREA FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES,AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT TO PERFORM A'FLY-BY' PASS OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE PASS, WHICH WAS AT ABOUT 100 FEET AGL, 'SOME DOWNDRAFT, TURBULENCE OR LOSS OF LIFT WAS ENCOUNTERED.' THE RIGHT WING AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND FLEW AROUND FOR A NORMAL LANDING. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR WING SPARS WERE BROKEN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE AT THE AIRSTRIP WATCHING HIS FLY-BY PASS. WHEN ASKED IF HE WAS 'BUZZING' THE AIRSTRIP, HE REPLIED 'YES'.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE DURING A LOW PASS. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/20/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORRISTOWN
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37815
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COOPER FARMS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 840
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 10000
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 9
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 507
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44976
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3770
NTSB Number ATL92LA015
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 8JCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier 8JCAB
Aircraft Serial Number W04-75
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAST TENNESSEE PILOT CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 6404
Aircraft Owner City MARYVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EAST TENNESSEE PILOT CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 6404
Operator City MARYVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37802
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 1510
Departure Time Zone RFY
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 Maneuvering
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 9
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --