# Accident 20121028024319A: Piper PA-32R-300, Sevierville, TN, October 28, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 28, 2012, 02:45 local time
- Place: Sevierville, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8092° N, 83.6522° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8092&lon=-83.6522&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4478F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4478F-2012-11-19) (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 PA-32R-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 502 total, 242 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121028024319A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED GKT ON IFR FLIGHT PLAN. CONTROLLER ASKED IF PILOT WANTED TO CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER VORTAC OR ACCEPT RADAR VECTORS. PILOT RESPONDED HE WOULD TAKE VECTORS. CONTROLLER TOLD PILOT TURN TO 260 DEGREES AND CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 6000 FEET. THIS WAS DIRECTLY INTO A MOUNTAIN. AT 2100 FEET PILOT CONTACTED DEPARTURE AND INFORMED THEM HE HAD TERRAIN WARNING ON GPS AND ASKED IF HE WAS IN THE CLEAR. THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED BY ISSUING A RIGHT TURN TO 290 DEGREES. AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT ABOUT 2200 FEET AFTER STRIKING A UTILITY POLE AND TREES. ALL 5 OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT AIRPLANE WHICH REMAINED IN THE TREES ABOUT 20 FEET IN THE AIR. AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 6 FEET OF THE TAIL SECTION.

## 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 ERA13LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA042), Oct 28, 2012: Piper PA-32R-300 (N4478F), Sevierville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The air traffic controller’s failure to comply with the required vectoring and safety alert procedures, which resulted in the airplane’s flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was…

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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