# NTSB ATL89FA015: Cessna 177A, N30470, La Follette, TN, October 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1988, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: La Follette, TN
- Coordinates: 36.369346, -84.119651 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3693&lon=-84.1197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7857
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7857/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA015

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED KNOXVILLE IN VFR CONDS. THERE WAS AN AREA OF IFR WX TO THE NORTH & NORTHWEST OF KNOXVILLE. THE WX WAS FORECAST TO BE MARGINAL ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT RPRTD HE WANTED TO DEPART KNOXVILLE ON A HEADING OF 360 DEG & WOULD BE AT 2500'. THE MAX ELEV FOR THE SECTOR JUST NORTH OF KNOXVILLE WAS 3900'. THE 1349 EDT WX AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT (MCGHEE TYSON, ELEV 981') WAS 1900' OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 10 MI WITH RAIN & FOG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEV OF 2350', APRX 27 MI NORTH OF MCGHEE TYSON. WITNESSES NEAR THE CRASH SITE INDICATED THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS, FOG & RAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30470](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30470-1990-06-04), registration cancelled 1990-06-04, S/N 17701276 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701276
- Airframe hours: 2836
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David L. Oakley
- Registered owner: David L Oakley/Ollie B Oakley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1988, 42 hours before
- Departed: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN
- Destination: DNV, DANVILLE, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 530 total, 107 in this make and model, 449 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 14 knots
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 38 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 19881018046959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881018046959A), Oct 18, 1988: Cessna 177A, La Follette, TN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of a cloud obscured mountain. Appears pilot was trying to fly VFR in near zero IMC existing in area.

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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