Bratton RB-1 N44516

Summary

On 9 August 1989 at about 19:14 local time, a Bratton RB-1 registered N44516, operated by Clarence R. Bratton, was involved in an accident near Springfield, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 August 1989 at 19:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

36.4904, -86.8710

Aircraft

Bratton RB-1

Registration

N44516

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Clarence R. Bratton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89DLT05

1 person died.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AT A LOW ALTITUDE, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL; AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF ALTITUDE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL/SPIN IN TIME TO AVOID THE TREE & POWER LINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT WAS FLYING THE MOTORIZED GLIDER AT ABOUT 200 TO 300 FT AGL. RPRTDLY, HE WAS SHUTTING OFF THE ENG, GLIDING FOR 30 TO 40 SEC, RESTARTING THE ENG, FLYING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN REPEATING THE PROCESS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE ENG WAS WITHOUT POWER, IT ENTERED A STALL/SPIN, THEN HIT A TREE & A POWER LINE BEFORE THE PLT RECOVERED. AN EXAM OF THE MOTORIZED GLIDER REVEALED THAT FUEL HAD BEEN EXHAUSTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.