# NTSB ATL83FA140: Piper PA-28-140, N9600W, Crossville, TN, March 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1983, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Crossville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.949245, -85.030258 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9492&lon=-85.0303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5899/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA140

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - inoperative (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO HINCH MT AT THE 2700 FOOT LEVEL DURING CRUISE FLT IN IMC WEATHER. THE PILOT WAS INFORMED DURING THE INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT BRIEFINGS THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR HIS ROUTE. THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT FROM NEW ORLEANS TO TUSCALOOSA ENDED WITH A LANDING UNDER IFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT TOLD THE FSS PERSONNEL HE WAS GOING BACK TO MERIDIAN, MS BUT INSTEAD CONTINUED ON TOWARD HIS ORIGINAL DESTINATION OF MASON WV. THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM THE CRASH IN TN BUT HIS SON, A PASSENGER, SURVIVED. THE SON SAID THAT HIS FATHER WAS INSTRUMENT RATED BUT HAD NOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN BECAUSE OF A KNOWN MALFUNCTIONING DIRECTIONAL GYRO. A STOP HAD BEEN MADE ON A PREVIOUS TRIP TO FIX THE DG BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED; FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED POSTACCIDENT DETERMINATION OF CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9600W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9600W-1983-06-25), registration cancelled 1983-06-25, S/N 28-23051 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-23051
- Airframe hours: 2060
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Three Point Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TCL, TULSCALOOSA, AL
- Destination: 312, POINT PLEASANT, WV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,850 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSV, 11 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830320010549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830320010549A), Mar 20, 1983: Piper PA28140, Crossville, TN, Destroyed. Flew into side of a cloud obscured mountain trying to remain VFR in IMC.pilot was advised of deteriorating weather.

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.

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