# NTSB ATL84FA026: Piper PA-24-250, N5763P, Lake Hills, TN, October 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1983, 23:21 local (Oct 22, 1983, 03:21 UTC)
- Place: Lake Hills, TN
- Coordinates: 35.100353, -85.180908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1004&lon=-85.1809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6228/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA026

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - fire warning system,powerplant - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - not performed, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- Ditching, landing

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER BECAME INOP; HOWEVER, THE PLT COULD RECEIVE TRANSMISSIONS & WAS PROVIDED VECTORS TOWARD THE DESTINATION ARPT. AFTER STARTING A DESCENT NEAR THE DESTINATION, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER. A WATER LAND ENG WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH TERRAINS & DARKNESS. AFTER THE WATER LANDING, ALL 4 OCCUPANTS EXITED THE ACFT WHILE IT WAS STILL FLOATING. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, NONE RECEIVED INJURIES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS COULD NOT SWIM. SHE & ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE DROWNED. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED, ONLY RIVER WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 4 HRS & 6 MIN PRIOR TO CRASHING. FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE FLT AS ESTIMATED TO BE 60.27 GAL. THE FUEL CAPACITY FOR THE ACFT WAS 60 GAL. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS BRIEFED TO EXPECT IMC CONDITIONS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT. DURING THE FLT, HE HAD CRUISED AT 8000 FT. AT CHATTANOOGA, THE CEILING WAS 3000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5763P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-841
- Airframe hours: 2476
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Plexus, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1983, 9 hours before
- Departed: 7D2, TROY, MI
- Destination: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CHA, Lovell Field, runway 20, 7,401 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 896 total, 9 in this make and model, 896 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 5 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 19831021054939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831021054939A), Oct 21, 1983: Piper PA24250, Lake Hills, TN, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Ran out of fuel on descent to destination. Ditched in a river. Pilot not instrument rated.

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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