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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 4, 1987 · Piper PA-28R-180 · N4974J

Lebanon, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 4, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Lebanon, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-180
Tail Number
N4974J
Operator
Hester Aircraft Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL87LA108

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A VFR PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RWY 18 AT HIS DESTINATION. THE WIND WAS 'HARD' AND 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE RWY.' HE REPORTED THAT, 'ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE WIND QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO FALL.' THE ACFT HIT HARD SHORT OF THE RWY, BOUNCED, STRUCK A VASI LIGHT, CROSSED A DITCH, A TAXIWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY. THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER.

Full Narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A VFR PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RWY 18 AT HIS DESTINATION. THE WIND WAS 'HARD' AND 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE RWY.' HE REPORTED THAT, 'ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE WIND QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO FALL.' THE ACFT HIT HARD SHORT OF THE RWY, BOUNCED, STRUCK A VASI LIGHT, CROSSED A DITCH, A TAXIWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY. THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 CST
Nearest AirportLebanon Municipal (0nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-180
Tail NumberN4974J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHester Aircraft Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-B1E · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 30 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data