Whifferdill Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chapmansboro, Tennessee 37015
Thursday, September 6, 2012 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern; he had not flown the airplane for 6 months. Prior to initiating the departure, the pilot confirmed that the flight control and flap systems were operating normally. Just after takeoff, the airplane banked "hard" to the left, and the pilot applied full right rudder and aileron control inputs to correct. The pilot reduced engine power and leveled the wings, and the airplane subsequently impacted trees. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to a local weather observation facility, wind was reported as calm at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Chapmansboro
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37015
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361919N
Event Location Longitude 0870902W
Event Location Airport Whifferdill Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TN77
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 622
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1730 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID KCKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KCKV 062252Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/22 A29
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30930
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 Dec 28 2012 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N484PC
NTSB Number ERA12CA551
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 HOLLOMAN L B/HOLLOMAN E M
Aircraft Model SONEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 199
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 860
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Jerry Travis
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chapmansboro
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37035
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jerry Travis
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Chapmansboro
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37035
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 TN77
Departure City Chapmansboro
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TN77
Destination City Chapmansboro
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2012 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --