# Accident 20020212001699A: Gulstm 500U, Copperhill, TN, February 12, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 12, 2002, 15:30 local time
- Place: Copperhill, TN
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0217° N, 84.4683° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0217&lon=-84.4683&mi=10
- Aircraft: N441WW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441WW-2004-05-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500-U (registry code 0141108, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-u) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM 500U
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020212001699A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 12, 2002, ABOUT 1530 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, AN AERO COMMANDER 500U, N441WW, REGISTERED TO AIRCENTER, INC., COLLIDED WITH WOODED TERRAIN IN THE BIG FROG WILDERNESS AREA OF THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST NEAR COPPERHILL, TENNESSEE. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED, AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ANDREWS-MURPHY AIRPORT IN ANDREWS, NORTH CAROLINA, AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE FLIGHT WAS REPORTEDLY EN ROUTE TO BARWICK LAFAYETTE AIRPORT IN LAFAYETTE, GEORGIA. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE AIRPLANE FLYING LOW IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE PRIOR TO ITS IMPACT WITH THE WOODED TERRAIN. (-23) ON 02/12/2002 MR. GADBERRY DEPARTED RHP AT 1430 LOCAL TIME TO FLY TO 9A5. AT ABOUT 1530 A ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ (RETIRED FOREST SERVICE) HEARD AN AIRPLANE SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND QUIT. IT RESTARTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND QUIT AGAIN, THAT'S ALL. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                  DROVE UPON THE ACCIDENT SITE AND CALLED 911. THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T SMELL OR SEE                              FUEL LEAKING. EMS FROM LIFE FORCE AT ERLANGER HOSPITAL IN CHATTANOOGA, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED NO FUEL SMELL OR LEAKAGE. THEY ASKED MR.GADBERRY WHAT HAPPENED AND HE STATED FUEL. POLK COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY JOE PRICE AND CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT RANGER JANE WRIGHT BOTH STATED NO FUEL SMELL OR LEAKAGE AND BOTH HEARD MR. GADBERRY STATE HE RAN OUT FUEL. WHEN I (ASI MCMANAMAN) ARRIVED AT ABOUT 1830 TO THE ACCIDENT, I DID NOT SMELL FUEL OR SEE ANY LEAKING. I CHECKED THE FUEL TANK AND IT WAS EMPTY. WHEN ATLANTA AIRCRAFT RECOVERY EXTRACTED THIS AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONFIRMED FUEL EXHAUSTION ON 02/19/02.

## 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 ATL02LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA046), Feb 12, 2002: Aero Commander 500U (N441WW), Copperhill, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent collision with trees during emergency landing on unsuitable terrain

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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