Tupelo Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
Tuesady, October 4, 2005 21:07 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 54-hour private pilot landed at the airport at approximately 2100, under dark night conditions. The pilot reported that he began to look for taxiway centerline markings, but none were found. The pilot added that he then began looking for an aircraft marshaller while taxiing to the Fixed Base Operator parking area. The pilot did not see any aircraft marshaller present and elected to continue to taxi to a parking spot. While maneuvering the airplane near the parking area, the pilot initiated a left turn when he felt the right wing impact a solid object. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing impacted an unmarked black light pole near the parking area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout during taxi. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, the unmarked light pole, and the lack of taxiway centerline markings at the parking area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2107
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Tupelo
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38801
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341613N
Event Location Longitude 0884618W
Event Location Airport Tupelo Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTUP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 346
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KTUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 346
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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) 18978
NTSB Notification Source FAA COMM Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jakson, Mississippi FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94684
NTSB Number DFW06CA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15285763
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 9553
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 3203 DSU
Aircraft Owner City CLEVELAND
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38733
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 KRNV
Departure City Cleveland
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KTUP
Destination City Tupelo
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2005 5:21PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --