# NTSB ATL89LA042: Piper PA-31-350, N27947, Union City, TN, November 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 19, 1988, 18:15 local (Nov 20, 1988, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Union City, TN
- Coordinates: 36.419944, -89.049125 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4199&lon=-89.0491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7960/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA042

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - unavailable
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - loss(partial) (contributing factor)
  - facility,inadequate external lighting, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

PIC MADE TWO SDF APPROACHES. ON THE FIRST APPROACH HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE RWY LIGHTS. THE ACFT WAS ALIGNED LEFT OF RWY AND A MISSED APPROACH WAS MADE. ON THE SECOND APPROACH THE PIC SAID HE HAD DIFFICULTY PICKING UP ANY RWY LIGHTS. HE LANDED WITH THE NOSE GEAR & LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WHEN THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT HE WAS STILL 15 FEET ABOVE RWY. RAIN OBSCURED THE WINDSHIELD. NO APPROACH LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED AT THE AIRPORT. THE RWY LIGHTS WOULD TRIP THE CB IF SET ABOVE 10% ILLUMINATION; PIC WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE AIRPORT WAS THE PIC'S HOME BASE AND NEXT NEAREST AIRPORT WAS 30 NM SW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27947](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27947-1990-03-12), registration cancelled 1990-03-12, S/N 317952058 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7952058
- Airframe hours: 1986
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2D8 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James And Vaughn Leasing
- Registered owner: James & Vaughn Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 1988, 70 hours before
- Departed: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: UCY, Everett-Stewart, runway 1, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,742 total, 835 in this make and model, 2,610 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DYR, 30 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 19881119053149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881119053149A), Nov 19, 1988: Piper PA31350, Union City, TN, Substantial damage. Failed to flare for landing and align with runway. Left main hit off edge of runway and collapsed. Heavy rain 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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