Lovell Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421
Tuesady, December 30, 2008 18:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot landed and taxied toward his hangar during night, visual meteorological conditions. As the pilot entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck a parked helicopter dolly. The right gear collapsed, the right wing forward and aft spars were damaged, and a fuel leak resulted. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the airport authority reported that the parked dolly was clearly marked. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to see and avoid the marked helicopter dolly. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1805
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Chattanooga
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37421
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350207N
Event Location Longitude 0851213W
Event Location Airport Lovell Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CHA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 683
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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) 24999
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2009 7:41AM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N400SC
NTSB Number ERA09CA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model G35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-4569
Certified Max Gross Weight 2775
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 7763
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James W. Roberts, Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 24042
Aircraft Owner City Chattanooga
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37422-4042
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James W. Roberts, Jr.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 24042
Operator City Chattanooga
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37422-4042
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 RNC
Departure City McMinnville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CHA
Destination City Chattanooga
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2009 7:41AM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --