Piper PA28 accident near McMinnville, TN
On September 8, 2020, a Piper PA28 (airplane) was involved in an accident near McMinnville, TN. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 8, 2020
- Place
- McMinnville, TN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.695°N, 85.854°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200908X33742
Official records · ERA20LA309
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 8, 2020, about 1130 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4166Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McMinnville, Tennessee. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Lebanon Flying Club and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot flew uneventfully from Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT), Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to Warren County Memorial Airport (RNC), McMinnville, Tennessee. Review of security video at RNC revealed that the airplane landed on runway 23 about 1123. It then taxied back to the beginning of the runway for takeoff about 1128 and disappeared from camera view during initial climb about 1 minute later. Smoke was observed emanating from the airplane before it travelled beyond camera view. A witness, who was walking in his backyard heard an airplane engine go silent, then heard the sound of an impact about 30 seconds later. During that time, he briefly saw the airplane through trees but could not determine its attitude. Review of radar data revealed targets consistent with the accident airplane arriving at RNC, but the airplane did not obtain enough altitude upon departure (about 500 ft above ground level) for any further radar data to be recorded. PILOT INFORMATION According to the pilot’s logbook, she received a flight review on February 23, 2020. The only other entry was dated August 20, 2020, when she satisfactorily completed a 1-hour checkout flight to use a flying club airplane. The next flight was the accident
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure in a cylinder, and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain airspeed and her exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack while maneuvering at low altitude.
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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.
