- Date
- August 27, 1989, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gallatin, TN
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5684SBeech A23-19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890827031869A
- Case key
- 8059
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot used an unsuitable runway area (terrain) for takeoff. Related factors were: inadequate maintenance of the runway, runway conditions (uneven surface & tall grass), and the fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane collided with a fence near the departure end of the 1700 foot grass runway. Grass on the runway was 12 inches tall, and the runway was rough and uneven. The investigation failed to disclose any mechanical problems which would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5684S
- Reported as
- Beech A23-19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- MB-124
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2C, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Shirley Brown
- Registered owner
- William H Sallee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Gallatin, TN
- Airport
- Private
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 300 in this make and model · 13 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.