- Date
- June 26, 1982, 22:52 local (Jun 27, 1982, 02:52 UTC)
- Place
- Hixson, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2604PPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820626025569A
- Case key
- 71037
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot elected to takeoff on a dark night without runway lights. He stated that the runway lights were not available at the time since the operator was out of town. According to the pilot and other witnesses, at least part of the airport environment was illuminated by the lights near the approach end of runway 23. The pilot reported that he climbed straight ahead to 400 ft AGL after taking off from runway 23. Reportedly at that altitude, he turned right, then back left, intending to land on runway 05. He said that he turned to where he expected to find the runway and began his descent. The landing light was not as bright as he anticipated, the visibility was restricted slightly by haze, and the bright lights of the ball park made it difficult to see. Also, he reported that many of the ball park lights were turned off causing a black area which was disorienting. While descending to runway 05,the plane struck a treetop and came to rest in a wooded area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2604P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-2937
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James G. Godsey
- Registered owner
- Michael B. Smith
- Departed
- 1A0 · Hixson, TN
- Destination
- 1A0 · Hixson, TN
- Airport
- 1A0 · Dallas Bay Sky Park, runway 5, 3,025 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 3 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 162 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.