Richard B. Russell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rome, Georgia 30161
Saturday, August 30, 1986 16:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED HE TOOK OFF TOO CLOSE BEHIND A PRECEDING ACFT AND WAS CAUGHT IN THE WING TIP VORTICIES. THE VORTICES COMBINED WITH A 110 DEG LEFT CROSSWIND (WIND 070/20 GUSTING HIGHER) RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET HOME BEFORE DARK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ROME
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30161
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RICHARD B. RUSSELL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RMG
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 644
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1600 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 800
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) 1660
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32086
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 N545JS
NTSB Number ATL86LA234
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 BENHAM
Aircraft Model MIDGET MUSTANG M-1
Aircraft Series Identifier MIDGET MUS
Aircraft Serial Number 1001
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 1981 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN E. SIMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6601 WEST SCHMITT LANE
Aircraft Owner City EVANSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47712
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 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City EVANSVILLE
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 18
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --