- Date
- July 16, 1991, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place
- Springfield, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8739PPiper PA-24-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910716048159A
- Case key
- 8438
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 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.
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
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8739P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-4190
- Engine
- Lycoming I0-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Logan Lesh Communications, Inc
- Registered owner
- Logan Lesh Communications, Inc
- Departed
- M53 · Humboldt, TN
- Airport
- M91 · Springfield Municipal, runway 3, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 4,700 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °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.
Other investigations on N8739P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.