Piper PA-28-180 accident near Knoxville, TN
On October 12, 1997, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Knoxville, TN. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 12, 1997
- Place
- Knoxville, TN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.910°N, 83.871°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09072
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 11, 1997, about 2051 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N15331, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the Tennessee River, about 1 mile west of the Downtown Island Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sank and was destroyed. The private-pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time. The airplane and its occupants had arrived in Knoxville earlier in the day to attend a University of Tennessee football game. According to airport personnel, the three occupants arrived back at the airport after the game, about 2030, and after the control tower had closed. The control tower was staffed 2 hours before and after the University of Tennessee football games. The pilot had line service personnel put 24 gallons of fuel in the airplane, and according to the line service manager, this "filled the tanks." The airplane was seen by several witnesses climbing in a westerly direction, about 200 feet above the ground (AGL), in a nose-high attitude, wings rocking, and lights on. Witnesses said the airplane turned, went into a nose-low attitude and impacted the water. Several witnesses said the airplane's engine was "revving" and sounded "loud," before impacting the water. One witness said the engine sounded like it was at "full power." Two witnesses, a married couple, were walking near the river, when they saw the airplane come from the airport and fly in a westerly direction, down river, on
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while climbing after takeoff, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the water.
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Browse: Tennessee · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
