20050108003019A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech A35 · Knoxville, TN · January 8, 2005

Date: January 8, 2005 · 22:02 local
Place: Knoxville, TN
Airport: Sky Ranch Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N501B
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL05LA042
Reported as: Beech A35
Reported engine: Continental E185*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 537 total53 in this make and model19 in the last 90 days

N501BRegistration cancelled Jan 28, 2010 · Beech A35S/N D-1523 · Built 1948 Airframe modelBeech A35 Engine modelContinental E185 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) At approximately 2200 EDT, N501B, while on visual night approach to Sky Ranch Airport (TN98) near Knoxville, TN, the aircraft struck trees on a ridge about three quarters mile from the airport. A witness stated that he saw the aircraft approach the ridge then turn toward the airport. He lost sight of the aircraft but heard the impact with trees. Another witness stated that he heard the aircraft increase power then the sound of impact.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 2200 EDT, N501B, WHILE ON VISUAL NIGHT APPROACH TO SKY RANCH AIRPORT (TN98) NEAR KNOXVILLE, TN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON A RIDGE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT APPROACH THE RIDGE THEN TURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT. HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT HEARD THE IMPACT WITH TREES. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE AIRCRAFT INCREASE POWER THEN THE SOUND OF IMPACT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL05LA042Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportKnoxville, TNThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in the in-flight collision with trees. A factor was dark night.Jan 9, 2005 · Substantial damage