# NTSB ATL84MA052: Beech 58TC, N2131L, Knoxville, TN, November 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 27, 1983, 01:30 local (06:30 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.91016, -83.869232 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9102&lon=-83.8692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84MA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6563/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84MA052

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - not performed, pilot in command
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT CHECKED IN WITH KNOXVILLE APCH CONTROL & STATED THAT HE WAS PROCEEDING TO THE DOWNTOWN ARPT FOR LANDING. AT THAT TIME, THE WX AT MCGHEE-TYSON ARPT (APRX 10 MI SSW) WAS CLEAR WITH 7 MI VISIBILITY. ABOUT 10 MIN LATER, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ENCOUNTERING FOG IN THE VICINITY OF THE DOWNTOWN ARPT & 'MIGHT HAVE TO GO OVER TO MCGHEE-TYSON TO LAND.' A FEW MIN LATER, HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXECUTED A MISSED APCH FROM RWY 26 DUE TO FOG, BUT THAT HE SAW SOME LIGHTS & WAS GOING TO TRY TO LAND ON RWY 8. HE MADE A PROCEDURE TURN TO ALIGN THE ACFT TO THAT RWY. DURING THE 2ND APCH, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG AGAIN & INITIATED A GO-AROUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE LEFT WING HIT TREES & THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE RIVER NEXT TO THE ARPT. RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE FOG WAS SO THICK THAT THEY HAD TROUBLE FINDING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE FIELD TO LOCATE THE WRECKAGE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT WING BEGAN BURNING AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. THE TREES WERE LOCATED ALONG THE RIVER BANK NORTH OF RWY 8.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2131L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2131L-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N TK-38, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58TC
- Registry model: [Beech 58TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58tc) (registry code 1152746) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TK-38
- Airframe hours: 1102
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: T. Lynn White
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 4, 1983, 157 hours before
- Departed: FTY, ATLANTA, GA
- Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 8, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total, 155 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 10 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 19831127058679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831127058679A), Nov 27, 1983: Beech 58TC, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Pilot lost visual contact after airplane entered fog during VFR approach to landing.

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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