Decker Farm Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jonesboro, Tennessee 37659
Wednesday, May 5, 1982 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER UTILIZING THE SOUTHWEST RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LIMP WINDSOCK HAD SHIFTED TO INDICATE USE OF THE NORTHEAST RUNWAY. THE NEXT TAKEOFF WAS THEREFORE MADE TO THE NORTHEAST, WITH AN UPHILL GRADIENT TO THE RUNWAY. AFTER A SLOWER THAN NORMAL ACCELERATION THE AIRCRAFT FINALLY BECAME AIRBORNE WHEN IT PASSED OVER A RISE IN THE RUNWAY. IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE AIRSPEED THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN GROUND EFFECT UNTIL IT STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND YAWED OUT OF CONTROL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JONESBORO
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37659
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport DECKER FARM
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1653
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID TRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
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 Unknown
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) 79
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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) 799
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N900AA
NTSB Number ATL82DA125
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 PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0171
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 50
Airframe Hours 1290
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name APPALACHIAN FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1077
Aircraft Owner City TCAS BLOUNTVILL
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37617
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name APPALACHIAN FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1077
Operator City TCAS BLOUNTVILL
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37617
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TRI
Departure City BRISTOL
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TRI
Destination City BRISTOL
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --