Chattanooga Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ringgold, Georgia 30742
Saturday, July 26, 1986 10:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN BECAUSE HE REALIZED HE WAS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO AN AIRPORT WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN SAID THE PILOT TOLD HIM HE BECAME DISORIENTED DURING THE TURN, CUT THE POWER TO LAND, AND DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE TURN IN HAZY VISIBILITY THE PILOT BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, ALLOWED THE WING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TURN TO STALL, AND FAILED TO RECOVER FROM THE INDUCED SPIRAL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RINGGOLD
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30742
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHATTANOOGA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CHA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 682
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 949 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1470
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 26 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1225
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31881
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71713
NTSB Number ATL86LA213
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 LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 3140
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
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 Aug 10 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREDERICK S. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1513 FRAZIER
Aircraft Owner City CENTRALIA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62801
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 No
Departure Airport Code 8A4
Departure City MARIETTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLO
Destination City SALEM
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --