20150426004529A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-300 · Knoxville, TN · April 26, 2015

Date: April 26, 2015 · 17:00 local
Place: Knoxville, TN
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2269M
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA15CA051
Reported as: Piper PA-32R-300
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 415 total250 in this make and model18 in the last 90 days

N2269MRegistered now · Piper PA-32R-300S/N 32R-7880060 · Built 1977 Airframe modelPiper PA-32R-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

The PICprivacy data omitted stated he and his passenger departed hilton head, SC. To his home airport, downtown island Knoxville TN (dkx). The PIC had filed an IFR flight plan and stated they were in the clouds the entire trip. During descent the aircraft crossed over a mountain range from 9000'MSL to 7000', as instructed. The aircraft encountered severe turbulence and pilot stated it happened instantaiously. The aircraft went inverted and his aircraft instruments "tumbled". He recovered but did not remember how. During this recovery, the aircraft was overstressed.

The wings were damaged (wrinkled) and this was confirmed by the FAA.

As the FAA filed it

THE PIC^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED HILTON HEAD, SC. TO HIS HOME AIRPORT, DOWNTOWN ISLAND KNOXVILLE TN (DKX). THE PIC HAD FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND STATED THEY WERE IN THE CLOUDS THE ENTIRE TRIP. DURING DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED OVER A MOUNTAIN RANGE FROM 9000'MSL TO 7000', AS INSTRUCTED. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND PILOT STATED IT HAPPENED INSTANTAIOUSLY. THE AIRCRAFT WENT INVERTED AND HIS AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTS "TUMBLED". HE RECOVERED BUT DID NOT REMEMBER HOW. DURING THIS RECOVERY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVERSTRESSED.

THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED (WRINKLED) AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE FAA.

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 GAA15CA051Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGatlinburg, TNThe pilot's encounter with extreme turbulence during descent over mountainous terrain, which resulted in a loss of control, and structural damage in flight.Apr 26, 2015 · Substantial damage