# NTSB ATL04CA189: Beech D18S, N432U, Tullahoma, TN, September 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2004, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Tullahoma, TN - Coordinates: 35.380001, -86.246109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3800&lon=-86.2461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA189 ## Probable cause Right tire burst during an attempted takeoff that resulted in loss of directional control and the on ground collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,tire - burst (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis During takeoff roll, the airplane's right landing gear tire blew. The left wing raised up and the airplane drifted right. The pilot shut down the power. The pilot then stated that the right wheel caught the raised grass area on the edge of the runway. The airplane's tail swung to the right and the right landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on the right edge of runway 18, 100 yards from where the tire went flat. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of accident site revealed tire skid marks off to the right of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right wing, right engine, cowling, and right wing propeller. The right landing gear assembly was torn from the airframe and the empennage was partially detached. A review of maintenance records recovered failed to disclose the history of the failed tire. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 2004 at 1500 central daylight time a Beech D18S, N432U, registered to Comanche Air Inc and operated by a private pilot, right tire blew and the airplane slid to the right side of runway 18 while on take off roll at Tullahoma Regional Airport in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The parachute jump flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and 10 passengers were not injured. The flight originated from the Tullahoma Regional Airport, Tullahoma, Tennessee, on September 6, 2004 at 1500. According to the pilot, during takeoff roll, the airplane's right landing gear tire blew out. The pilot further stated that following the tire blow-out, the left wing came up and the airplane drifted right. At this point, the pilot shut down the engine power. The pilot then stated that as the airplane continued to drift right, the right wheel caught the raised grass area on the edge of the runway. The airplane's tail swung to the right and the right landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on the right edge of runway 18, 100 yards from where the tire went flat. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of accident site revealed tire skid marks off to the right of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right wing, right engine, cowling, and right wing propeller. The right landing gear assembly was torn from the airframe and the empennage was partially detached. A review of maintenance records recovered failed to disclose the history of the tire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N432U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432U-2025-01-24), registration cancelled 2025-01-24, S/N BA-161, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-161 - Airframe hours: 15904 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 550 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney PT6A 550 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: James E. Baron - Registered owner: Comanche Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 24, 2004, 48 hours before - Departed: KTHA, Tullahoma, TN - Airport: KTHA, Tullahoma Regional Airport, runway 18, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KMQY, 35 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040906025739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040906025739A), Sep 6, 2004: Beech E18S, Tullahoma, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) With ten skydiving jumpers on board, on take-off roll, 180' crosswind from the left with the tail coming up, the right MLG tire flat, left wing came up.… ## Other investigations on N432U (3) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW81IA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81IA026), Jan 23, 1981: Beech E18S (N432U), Albuquerque, NM, incident, minor damage - [NTSB MIA69D0396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69D0396), Mar 12, 1969: Beech E18S (N432U), Nassau, Burkina Faso, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK65X0805](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0805), Nov 23, 1964: Beechcraft E18 (N432U), East Boston, MA, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.