# Accident 19990809011199A: Cessna 150G, Greenville, TN, August 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 1999, 08:50 local time
- Place: Greenville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0708° N, 82.8609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0708&lon=-82.8609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3187X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3187X-2000-05-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150G (registry code 2071816, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 66 total, 17 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990809011199A

## Narrative

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

ACFT DEPARTED TRI ON SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE, VFR CLEARANCE TERMINATED 17 SOUTH OF TRI, PILOT CALLED TRI FIXED BASE OPERATOR ADVISING HE HAD CRASHED. (.19) ON AUGUST 9, 1999, ABOUT 0850 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 150G, N3187X, REGISTERED TO ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING, INC., COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN NEAR GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE, WHILE ON A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TRI-CITIES REGIONAL AIRPORT, BLOUNTVILLE, TENNESSEE, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 0815. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE FROM BLOUNTVILLE, TO COLLEGEDALE, TENNESSEE, AT 3,000 FEET, HE ENCOUNTERED WEATHER AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO BLOUNTVILLE. AS HE MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARDS BLOUNTVILLE, HE ENTERED A CLOUD. HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE BEGAN FLYING THE AIRCRAFT BY REFERENCE TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS AND REGAINED CONTROL. HE CLIMBED TO 3,500 FEET AND MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD BLOUNTVILLE, WHERE HE BELIEVED THE WEATHER WAS BETTER. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, IN THE CLOUDS, FLYING TO THE NORTH, HE ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED THROUGH THE TREES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE ON A PORTABLE TELEPHONE. HE REPORTED HE HAD NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT. (-23) PRIVATE SEL PILOT FLYING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES STATED HE ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ENROUTE TO CHATTANOOGA VIA KNOXVILLE ON VOLUNTEER VOR FROM THE TRI-CITIES AIRPORT (TRI). HE STATED HE ENTERED THESE CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 3000' AGL IN AND AROUND THE GREENVILLE, TN AREA, ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT.  THE PILOT THEN REPORTED HE EXPERIENCED TURBULENCE WHICH FORCED HIM INTO A 1000 FPM DESCENT.  IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO TRI IN A SHALLOW LEFT HAND BANKING TURN AND TO REGAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 3500' AGL AND TUNED TO THE HOLSTON MOUNTAIN VOR, WHICH HE STATED WAS NOW DUE NORTH OF HIS POSITION.  IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 3500' AGL, AND IN IMC THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED INTO THE SOUTH FACE OF GREENE MOUNTAIN AT 3500' AGL.  (.4) THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES CLEARANCE WHILE ON A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT. AFTER DEPARTURE THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTE RED AND ENTERED CLOUDS. WHILE FLYING IN THE CLOUDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON RISING TERRAIN.

## 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 MIA99LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA218), Aug 9, 1999: Cessna 150G (N3187X), Greeneville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remain clear of clouds while operating under visual flight rules resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees on rising terrain as he flew in the clouds.

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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