# NTSB ATL89LA216: Piper PA-28-181, N43804, Cleveland, TN, September 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1989, 22:10 local (Sep 22, 1989, 02:10 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, TN
- Coordinates: 35.170204, -84.859458 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1702&lon=-84.8595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8068/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA216

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - fog
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr)
  - object - tree(s)
  - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - residence

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43804-1990-07-17), registration cancelled 1990-07-17, S/N 287890020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7890020
- Airframe hours: 2206
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890921035719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890921035719A), Sep 21, 1989: Piper PA28181, Cleveland, TN, Destroyed. VFR pilot cancelled IFR for visual landing. Fog over runway. Began go around,too slow turned into trees. Hit building

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.