Soesbe-Martin Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388
Sunday, April 28, 1985 14:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS GIVING A 15 YR OLD PASSENGER A LOCAL AREA FLT. WHILE IN LEVEL FLT AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, THE ACFT HIT AN UNMARKED/GUYED ANTENNA TOWER & CRASHED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE TOWER. ALTHOUGH THE TOWER HAD BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS, IT WAS NOT PAINTED OR LIGHTED IAW THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR AC 70/7460-1F. ALSO, IT WAS NOT MARKED ON THE AERONAUTICAL CHARTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TULLAHOMA
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37388
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOESBE-MARTIN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID THA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1448 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID BNA
Elevation of weather observation facility 599
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 530
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 28 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27815
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6015H
NTSB Number ATL85LA151
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-65
Aircraft Serial Number 19154
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CUMBERLAND FLYERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 179
Aircraft Owner City TULLAHOMA
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37388
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CUMBERLAND FLYERS,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 Yes - certificate holder
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 THA
Departure City TULLAHOMA
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
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 Cruise
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --