Fayette County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Somerville, Tennessee 38068
Tuesady, May 13, 2003 10:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on approach to land on runway 01, the airplane propeller caught a berm and undershot the runway 10 feet of the paved surface. Since repairs were underway from the edge of the runway-paved surface, several feet of dirt had been removed on the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that the nose wheel collapsed and the airplane skidded in and stopped about 50 feet down the runway. Examination of the airplane showed a buckled fuselage, nose gear damage, firewall and propeller damage. No mechanical problems were revealed during the post-accident examination of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudged approach airspeed and distance which resulted in an undershoot of the runway and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1035
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Somerville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38068
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351221N
Event Location Longitude 0892340W
Event Location Airport FAYETTE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FYE
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 436
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1058 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID MKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15621
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 13 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
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 N1748F
NTSB Number ATL03LA092
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17255143
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ray Douglas
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1075 Airport Rd
Aircraft Owner City Somerville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38068
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code FYE
Departure City Somerville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1010
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Somerville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2004 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --