# NTSB ATL89FA174: Piper PA-30, N7554Y, Springfield, TN, July 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1989, 17:03 local (22:03 UTC)
- Place: Springfield, TN
- Coordinates: 36.489444, -86.869636 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4894&lon=-86.8696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA174

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN HIS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - lightning (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PLT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING FOR AN IFR FLT AT 7,000 FEET WHICH INCLUDED FORECASTED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG ROUTE OF FLT. A CONVECTIVE SIGMET WAS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR ROUTE OF FLIGHT. IN THE AREA OF SPRINGFIELD, TN, THE FLT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO BE APPROACHING AN AREA OF PRECIPITATION, AND THE PLT STATED IT WAS GETTING 'A LITTLE ROUGH'. DEVIATION AROUND THE WEATHER AND AN ALTITUDE CHANGE, IF NECESSARY, WAS APPROVED BY THE CONTROLLER. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE FLT WAS ADVISED IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WEATHER AREA AND THAT ADDITIONAL WEATHER AREAS WERE AHEAD. THE FLT WAS LOST FROM RADAR SHORTLY AFTER THIS. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT COME OUT OF AREA OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER IN A 70 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7554Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7554Y-1990-07-17), registration cancelled 1990-07-17, S/N 30617 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-617
- Airframe hours: 1836
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John L. Hart
- Registered owner: John L Hart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 1988, 162 hours before
- Departed: MWA, MARION, IL
- Destination: L24, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,252 total, 363 in this make and model, 1,194 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA

## 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 19890704019429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890704019429A), Jul 4, 1989: Piper PA30, Springfield, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Entered thunderstorm area. Lost control. Crashed in open field.

## Other investigations on N7554Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI77FEI01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEI01), Oct 4, 1976: Piper PA-30 (N7554Y), Mansfield, OH, substantial damage

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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