Howard Aircraft DGA-15P accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, October 14, 2022
On October 14, 2022 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1944 Howard Aircraft DGA-15P, registered N63597, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee (Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2022 · about 8:15 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee · Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Howard Aircraft DGA-15P, built 1944 · all DGA-15Ps on the register
- Registration
- N63597 · registry record · serial 1830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While enroute to the destination, the pilot noted moderate turbulence and decided to land and wait until the turbulence decreased. During the first landing attempt, there was turbulence and the pilot elected to perform a abort the landing after the airplane touched down briefly. After the second landing, during the landing roll, a gust of wind raised the right wing resulting in the airplane veering to the right. The pilot applied power to increase the airflow over the rudder and recenter the airplane, however the airplane was drifting to the left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and right elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,370 hours in all; 294 in this make and model; 33.5 in the last 90 days; 5.5 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 796.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-6 (piston); 815 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTHA Tullahoma TN at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 2M8 Millington TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:10 pm from MRC, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMRC 142010Z AUTO 24011G18KT 10SM CLR 24/M04 A2987 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident Site (Pilot Photo)
Photo 2 – Damage to right wing and aileron (Pilot Photo)
Photo 3 – Damage to the right elevator (Pilot Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N63597 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N63597 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Howard Aircraft DGA-15 97 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Howard Aircraft 109 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-6 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lawrenceburg/Lawrence County (Fleeman Field) · nearest airport
- Tullahoma Rgnl/Wm Northern Field · departed from
- Charles W Baker Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,196 since 1982 · 229 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,522 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N63597 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA032.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.