# Accident 20240412004549A: Piper PA-32R-301, Powell, TN, April 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2024, 16:35 local time
- Place: Powell, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0000° N, 84.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0000&lon=-84.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9236J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9236J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301 (registry code 7103218, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 556 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240412004549A

## Narrative

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

PILOT TOPPED OFF THE AIRCRAFT WITH AVGAS AT TYS. PILOT FILED IFR FLIGHT PLAN FOR 8000 FT. TO GRR. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TYS FOR GRR APPROX 1615 EDT. TYS APPROACH RECEIVED A REQUEST TO CLIMB TO 10,000 FT ALT DUE TO PRECIPITATION AT APPROXIMATELY 1625 EDT. A MAYDAY CALL WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN RECIEVED APPROXIMATELY 1632 AND A NEARBY RESIDENT STATED HE SAW A "V" SHAPED AIRCRAFT FALLING AND SPIRALLING DOWN AND DEBRIS FLUTTERING DOWN FROM THE PLANE. DEBRIS HAS BEEN LOCATED AS FAR AS 1.6 MILES TO THE EAST OF THE CRASH SIGHT. REVIEW OF THE ADS-B DATA SHOWS RAPID AND LARGE CHANGES IN VERTICAL SPEED IN ECCESS OF 2100 FEET AND -2100 FT IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS APPROXIMATELY 28 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT.

## 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 ERA24FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA176), Apr 12, 2024: Piper PA-32R-301 (N9236J), Knoxville, TN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart into an area of instrument meteorological and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and a subsequent in-flight breakup.

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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