Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gallatin, Tennessee 37066
Sunday, August 27, 1989 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 1700 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. GRASS ON THE RUNWAY WAS 12 INCHES TALL, AND THE RUNWAY WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT USED AN UNSUITABLE RUNWAY AREA (TERRAIN) FOR TAKEOFF. RELATED FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNWAY, RUNWAY CONDITIONS (UNEVEN SURFACE & TALL GRASS), AND THE FENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GALLATIN
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37066
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 584
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 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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
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) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1479
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 27 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39824
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5684S
NTSB Number ATL89LA204
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A23-19
Aircraft Series Identifier A23-19
Aircraft Serial Number MB-124
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM H SALLEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 3 CATO ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NASHVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHIRLEY BROWN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4515 CATO ROAD
Operator City NASHVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37218
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City GALLATIN
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1455
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 0
Runway Length 1700
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --