Mullins Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clinton, Tennessee 37716
Sunday, April 30, 2000 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was returning to the 1300-foot sod airstrip after refueling at a nearby airport. According to the pilot, he maintained a final approach airspeed of 80 to 85 knots. After completing the before landing checklist, which included lowering wing flaps and applying carburetor heat, the pilot realized that the landing approach had a tailwind component. The pilot reported that as he continued the approach, the airspeed was too high and he did not feel that the airplane had sufficient engine power to clear the lake and higher terrain beyond the end of the runway. He elected to land long on the runway and ground looped the airplane to avoid an embankment and a lake on the departure end of the runway. An eyewitness stated that the airplane was fast and long over the runway for the landing. Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane had rotated 180 degrees on the ground and was facing the opposite landing direction. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning necessitating an intentional ground loop maneuver on landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's misjudgment of distance/airspeed, the high terrain surrounding the runway, and the tailwind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLINTON
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37716
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MULLINS FIELD
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1088
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1620 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2200
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) 103
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 3 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13330
NTSB Number ATL00LA052
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 172-62674
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Apr 28 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 3481
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MULLINS AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 104 ARTESIA LANE
Aircraft Owner City OAK RIDGE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TERRY L. MULLINS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 104 ARTESIA LANE
Operator City OAK RIDGE
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37030
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 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 1300
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --