ATL95LA072

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Paris, TN · March 29, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 29, 1995, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Paris, TN
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N258ERCessna 172NUNREGSprague C.G.S. Hawk Classic
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 23, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950329005991A
Case key
3540

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 failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.

The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.

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.

Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraft
Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

Both the Cessna 172N and the c.g.s. hawk classic ultralight were on downwind for runway 30. The right landing gear of the ultralight contacted the right wing of the Cessna 172N. The Cessna 172N sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the ultralight right landing gear was broken off in the collision. Both aircraft continued and landed with no injuries or further damage to the aircraft. Both pilots reported that they did not see the other aircraft until after the collision.

Both the Cessna 172N and the c.g.s. hawk classic ultralight were on downwind for runway 30. The right landing gear of the ultralight contacted the right wing of the Cessna 172N. The Cessna 172N sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the ultralight right landing gear was broken off in the collision. Both aircraft continued and landed with no injuries or further damage to the aircraft. Both pilots reported that they did not see the other aircraft until after the collision.

Factual narrative

See report ATL95LA072A for narrative report.

On March 29, 1995, at 1445 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N258ER was substantially damaged, and an unregistered Sprague C.G.S. Hawk Classic ultralight was substantially damaged following a midair collision while both aircraft were on downwind approach to runway 30 at the Paris, Tennessee Airport. Neither the commercial pilot of the Cessna, his passenger, nor the unlicensed pilot of the ultralight were injured in the accident. The Cessna 172N and the ultralight were being operated under the provisions of CFR Part 91 by the pilots of the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for either of the local flights. The Cessna departed Paris, Tennessee at 1330, and the ultralight departed Paris, Tennessee at 1420.

The pilot of the Cessna stated that he departed the Paris Airport at 1330 for a photography flight in the local area. Upon his return to the airport, he transmitted his position and intended runway over the local unicom frequency, and entered a downwind for Runway 30. At approximately 90 degrees to Runway 30, on downwind, he felt the collision and then saw the ultralight out the right side of the aircraft. He then turned left, and landed on Runway 20. He stated that his passenger spotted the Ultralight aircraft just seconds prior to the collision, but that he did not see the other aircraft until after the collision. The Cessna 172N sustained substantial damage to the right wing in the collision.

The pilot of the ultralight aircraft stated that he departed Paris at about 1420. He stated that he flew about five miles south of the airport, and then returned. He stated that while on downwind to Runway 30 he felt and heard the collision. He continued the approach and landed in the sod area next to Runway 30. He stated that he did not have a radio in the aircraft.

The pilot of the ultralight failed to respond to requests for the completion of a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N258ER
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17270891
Airframe hours
7,438
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial observation · Part 91
Registered owner
Battles, Richard
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 15, 1995 · 46 hours before
Airport
PHT · Henry County

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.

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Sprague C.G.S. Hawk Classic (C.G.S. HAW)
Category
Ultralight, amateur-built
Engine
Kawasaki 440A, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Sprague, Billy H.
Airport
PHT · Henry County

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N258ER
Age
52
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
8,000 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 8,000 as pilot in command · 127 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft 2
Seat
Center

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
PHT, 1 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.