Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westmoreland, Tennessee 37186
Sunday, October 9, 2011 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taking off from a private airstrip; as he was looking at a hay bale to the left of the airplane, the right wing tip struck another hay bale. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Westmoreland
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37186
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363333N
Event Location Longitude 0861533W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 1900
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 341
Weather Observation Facility ID BWG
Elevation of weather observation facility 547
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
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) 29312
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 Nov 30 2011 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N46513
NTSB Number ERA12CA022
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 0-58A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 42-7798
Certified Max Gross Weight 1293
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
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 Oct 10 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 1815
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name HENDERSON BLAKE W
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WESTMORELAND
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37186-4707
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HENDERSON BLAKE W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WESTMORELAND
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37186-4707
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Westmoreland
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Westmoreland
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2011 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --