# Accident 19960118000709A: Piper PA32R300, Smithville, TN, January 18, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 18, 1996, 22:50 local time
- Place: Smithville, TN
- Airport: Smithville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: PE4A
- Location: 35.9492° N, 85.8193° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9492&lon=-85.8193&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4457X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4457X-2013-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,295 total, 50 in this make and model, 141 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA96LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960118000709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ICING UNABLE SUSTAIN FLIGHT EN ROUTE. VECTORED TO 0A3, HEAVY ICE WINDSHIELD AND AIRFRAME. HIT VASI AND EMBANKMENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA96LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA066), Jan 19, 1996: Piper PA-32R-300 (N4457X), Smithville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in a heavy load of airframe ice, an inability to maintain altitude, and a subsequent emergency landing. Factors relating to the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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