# NTSB ATL89FA177: Cessna 172, N8855B, Townsend, TN, July 11, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1989, 13:28 local (17:28 UTC)
- Place: Townsend, TN
- Coordinates: 35.670143, -83.749778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6701&lon=-83.7498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7906
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7906/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA177

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8855B-1994-03-28), registration cancelled 1994-03-28, S/N 36555 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36555
- Airframe hours: 4108
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890711022049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890711022049A), Jul 11, 1989: Cessna 172, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed. Flew into trees near top of a cloud obscured ridge. Thunderstorms in area. Had been taking various medications.

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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