Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-24-260 N8739P

16 July 1991 · Springfield, Tennessee, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 16 July 1991 at about 13:05 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N8739P, operated by Logan Lesh Communications, Inc, was involved in an accident near Springfield, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 13:05
Classification
Accident
Location
Springfield, Tennessee, United States
Nearest airport
Springfield Municipal (M91)
Coordinates
36.4908, -86.8708
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Registration
N8739P
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Logan Lesh Communications, Inc
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Humboldt → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL91LA135

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 1 2

Probable cause

THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE EXECUTING A GO-AROUND, RESULTING IN THE STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO VISUALLY DETECT THE J-3 IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE PA-24 REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND SET UP FOR LANDING TO RUNWAY 3. HE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE PATTERN. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, HE SAW A PIPER J-3 ON THE RUNWAY, OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE EXECUTED A RIGHT, CLIMBING GO-AROUND. HE THEN OBSERVED A TOWER IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND NEAR MID FIELD. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT OF THE PA-24 CLAIMED THAT THE J-3 WAS BACK-TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE J-3 WAS ACTUALLY ON LANDING ROLLOUT (RWY 22) WHEN FIRST OBSERVED BY THE PA-24 PILOT. THE J-3 PILOT DID NOT SEE THE PA-24 UNTIL AFTER THE GO-AROUND WAS PERFORMED. THE J-3, A HIGH-WING AIRPLANE, WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-24 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 Oct 1991 Piper PA-24-250
N6815P
Ellicott, Colorado, United States Southwest Aircraft Recovery Minor injuries -
3 Feb 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N9209P
Cordele, Georgia, United States Carter, Richard C. Fatal 3
30 Mar 1991 Piper PA-24-250
N7457P
Franklin, Tennessee, United States Hannasch, Thomas P. Fatal 1
12 Nov 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N9161P
Charles City, Iowa, United States Culbert Aeronautics No injuries -
1 Dec 1991 Piper PA-24-180
N5174P
Sandston, Virginia, United States Michael Kroll Serious injuries -
15 Sep 1991 Piper PA-24-260
N8888P
Tehachapi, California, United States James W. Hager No injuries -

All 2,700 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Nov 1991 British 3101
N311PX
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
no coordinates
Northwest Airlink Serious injuries -
13 Nov 1991 Georga L Atwood KITFOX III
N49GA
Trezevant, Tennessee, United States Atwood, George L. No injuries -
19 Jan 1991 Beechcraft K35
N99RN
Lafayette, Tennessee, United States - Fatal 2
14 Feb 1991 Cessna 172
N8641B
Crossville, Tennessee, United States Hagen, Gary W. Fatal 1
20 Apr 1991 Cessna 172N
N5738J
Dunlap, Tennessee, United States Imperial Fabricating Company Fatal 2
15 May 1991 Boeing 727-223
N882AA
Nashville, Tennessee, United States American Airlines, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States