- Date
- September 21, 1989, 22:10 local (Sep 22, 1989, 02:10 UTC)
- Place
- Cleveland, TN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N43804Piper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890921035719A
- Case key
- 8068
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
The improper handling of the airplane by the pilot in command; a delayed go-around, and the premature retractions of the flaps.
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 flight was flown with an IFR clearance which was cancelled near the destination airport. The pilot reported 20 miles visibility beneath the overcast as he approached the airport. He flew over the runway & entered a left downwind leg. On short final at about 250 feet fog was observed beneath the airplane. The airplane descended into the fog, power was increased, & a left turn was begun for the missed approach. A climb was not initiated prior to the turn & the flaps were retracted at low speed. The airplane struck trees, & eventually stalled. It collided with two houses during the uncontrolled descent, then came to rest in a back yard.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43804
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7890020
- Airframe hours
- 2,206
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Cleveland Aero Club, Inc
- Registered owner
- Cleveland Aero Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1989 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- PDK · Chamble, GA
- Destination
- HDI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- HDI · Hardwick, runway 3, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 361 total · 238 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA, 25 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.