Piper J3C-65 accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, April 28, 1985
On April 28, 1985 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper J3C-65, registered N6015H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Soesbe-Martin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1985 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Soesbe-Martin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N6015H · registry record · serial 19154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS GIVING A 15 YR OLD PASSENGER A LOCAL AREA FLT. WHILE IN LEVEL FLT AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, THE ACFT HIT AN UNMARKED/GUYED ANTENNA TOWER & CRASHED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE TOWER. ALTHOUGH THE TOWER HAD BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS, IT WAS NOT PAINTED OR LIGHTED IAW THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR AC 70/7460-1F. ALSO, IT WAS NOT MARKED ON THE AERONAUTICAL CHARTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cumberland Flyers,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: THA Tullahoma TN at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; not recorded at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from BNA, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.