- Date
- March 6, 1988, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Knoxville, TN
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19880306044902A19880306044901A
- Case key
- 7587
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 Cessna made a long straight in final approach. The aircraft's radio transmitter was inop. Afterward the Cessna PIC rpted that initially he saw the Beech on a left base. Later he stated the Beech was heading away from the traffic pattern. Witnesses described the Beech flying a normal traffic pattern and arriving on final above & slightly behind the Cessna. The Beech began a steeper, faster descent & collided with the Cessna from behind. The investigation uncovered intense animosity between the Cessna operators and the flight school where the Beech was based. Corporate pilots complained about traffic pattern discourtesy by two acft whose descriptions matched the acft involved in this collision. A witness reported hearing the Beech making position reports in the pattern. Another witness stated that the Cessna radio was receiving satisfactorilly.
A Cessna made a long straight in final approach. The aircraft's radio transmitter was inop. Afterward the Cessna PIC rpted that initially he saw the Beech on a left base. Later he stated the Beech was heading away from the traffic pattern. Witnesses described the Beech flying a normal traffic pattern and arriving on final above & slightly behind the Cessna. The Beech began a steeper, faster descent & collided with the Cessna from behind. The investigation uncovered intense animosity between the Cessna operations and the flight school where the Beech was based. Corporate pilots complained about traffic pattern discourtesy by two acft whose descriptions matched the acft involved in this collision. A witness reported hearing the Beech making position reports in the pattern. Another witness stated that the Cessna radio was receiving satisfactorilly.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N60371
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15070262
- Airframe hours
- 2,352
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jack L. Pollard
- Registered owner
- Jack L Pollard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 17, 1987 · 19 hours before
- Airport
- DKX · Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 26, 3,500 × 75 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.
- Registration
- N3818U
- Reported as
- Beech 77
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- WA 223
- Airframe hours
- 4,318
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aviatin Instruction, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Douglas J. & Lisa Gieser
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 27, 1988 · 68 hours before
- Airport
- DKX · Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 26, 3,500 × 75 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N60371
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Flight hours
- 185 total · 158 in this make and model · 141 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3818U
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,058 total · 912 as pilot in command · 231 in the last 90 days · 84 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TYS, 21 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.