William L. Whitehurst Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bolivar, Tennessee 38008
Wednesday, February 12, 2003 21:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot during cruise flight at 6000 feet, the engine power began to decrease. The engine continued to run but was not producing full power. Repeated efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. The pilot radioed Memphis Approach control, and reported an in-flight emergency due to an engine failure. The controller issued the pilot radar vectors to William L. Whitehurst Field, Bolivar, Tennessee. The airplane collided with trees five miles south of the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was heavily fire damaged. There were no abnormalities discovered during the examination of the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2120
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Bolivar
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38008
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 351252N
Event Location Longitude 0890236W
Event Location Airport WILLIAM L. WHITEHURST FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M08
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 180
Airport Elevation 499
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID MKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) -1532
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15981
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 12 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2120
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Memphis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6ZZ
NTSB Number ATL03LA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model P210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number P21000558
Certified Max Gross Weight 3900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph Henry Schaffer III
Aircraft Owner Street Address 211 Belle Meade Lane
Aircraft Owner City MEMPHIS
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38117
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 GMU
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MEM
Destination City MEMPHIS
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2004 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --