Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hartsville, Tennessee 37087
Saturday, January 21, 1989 12:03 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TAKEOFF WAS FROM A PRIVATE STRIP IN A COW PASTURE. THE 1ST HALF OF THE STRIP WAS ON THE CROWN OF A HILL. IT SLOPED DOWN PAST THE MID-POINT OF THE RWY. THE PAX IN THE REAR SEAT SURVIVED & RPTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE HIT A LITTLE DITCH, BECAME AIRBORNE, TURNED LEFT, & CLIMBED WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ENG 'DID NOT MISS A LICK,' HE SAID. THE PLT'S WIFE WATCHED THE TAKEOFF & SAID WHEN THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND IT STARTED A LEFT TURN & THEN COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE LIFT-OFF POINT. AFTER THE COLLISION THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN LEFT & HIT THE GROUND NOSE FIRST, VERTICALLY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1203
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HARTSVILLE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37087
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 260
Airport Elevation 570
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1152 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID BNA
Elevation of weather observation facility 599
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1405
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38766
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5834A
NTSB Number ATL89FA081
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 28434
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Oct 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 3257
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAROLD WAYNE GREGORY
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR3 BOX 286
Aircraft Owner City LEBANON
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37087
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 1203
Departure Time Zone CST
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 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 27
Runway Length 1320
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --