- Date
- July 11, 1989, 13:28 local (17:28 UTC)
- Place
- Townsend, TN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8855BCessna 172
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 10, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890711022049A
- Case key
- 7906
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot and his delay in initiating remedial action, when he encountered low ceilings over mountainous terrain, which resulted in his inability to maintain sufficient altitude. Contributing factors were: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/decision, his failure to use in-flight weather briefing service, his probable physical impairment from medication/drugs, and the terrain and weather conditions.
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 plt depd dayton, OH, at about 0800 on a flt to macon, GA. He made an en route stop at crossville, TN. Due to wx on his route, he chose to fly to knoxville (dkx), TN, to refuel, then go direct to macon. After refueling at dkx, the plt depd for a direct flt over the mtns. He stated that the peaks were too high and he found a mtn valley leading to a pass across the ridge line. He observed cumulus clouds over the peaks. Before reaching the crest, the clouds began to moved in around him. He started a turn back to avoid the clouds, but the lndg gear brushed the trees. Subsequently, the acft crashed. Personnel hiking in the area heard the crash, found the acft, gave first aid to the plt, & obtained help from park rangers. The plt was evacuated by helicopter after delays due to thunderstorms in the area. The plt indcd he was taking prescription drugs. A toxicology check showed his blood contained 0.095 mg/l of nordiazepam. Cannabinoids were detected in his urine, but none was found in his blood.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8855B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36555
- Airframe hours
- 4,108
- Engine
- Continental O-300-A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Moraine Air Service
- Registered owner
- Dwight J Fullerton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 1989 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- DKX · Knoxville, TN
- Destination
- MCN · Macon, GA
- Airport
- TYS
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 92 total · 15 in this make and model · 52 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TYS, 23 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.