# NTSB ATL94LA031: Carson Piel Emeraude CP305, N447TB, Morrison, TN, December 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 1993, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Morrison, TN - Coordinates: 35.599334, -85.909164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5993&lon=-85.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3333/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA031 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - qualification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A NON-CERTIFIED PILOT DECIDED TO TAKE A PASSENGER FOR AN AIRPLANE RIDE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A SNOWSTORM MOVED INTO THE AREA. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER A GO-AROUND, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND, WHEN THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED INTO CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ISSUED A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE IN DECEMBER 1982. NO OTHER FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS OFFICIALLY RECORDED. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 25, 1993, at 1200 central standard time, a Carson Piel Emeraude CP305, N447TB, was destroyed following a collision with terrain in Morrison, Tennessee. The student pilot and one passenger were fatally injured in the accident and post impact fire. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight originated at a private, grass airstrip in Morrison shortly before the accident. Witnesses reported that the pilot was performing touch and go landings at the airstrip, which was owned by the pilot's family. The winds were gusting, with intermittent snow shower activity. The aircraft was seen executing a go-around at about 15 feet above the ground, then turning toward an approaching snow shower. The witnesses, who were relatives of the pilot, lost visual contact with the aircraft due to the snow showers. The aircraft wreckage was found the following day in a wooded area, approximately one half mile from the airstrip. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Witnesses reported that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane. The pilot had been issued a student pilot certificate on December 20, 1982. It was reported that the pilot had conducted his first solo flight in January, 1983. No other flight experience was recorded. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsies and toxicological examinations were not performed on the occupants at the request of the victims' families. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N447TB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N447TB-1994-05-02), registration cancelled 1994-05-02, S/N 1169 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CARSON PIEL EMERAUDE CP305 (PIEL EMERA) - Registry model: [Carson PIEL EMERAUDE CP305](https://openairdocs.org/model/carson-piel-emeraude-cp305) (registry code 7020220) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1169 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sherrell, Joe K. - Registered owner: Smith, Richard J. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; student; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots, gusting 21 - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RNC, 5 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 19931225047339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931225047339A), Dec 25, 1993: Amtrlt EMERAUDSUPER, Morrison, TN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. No license or medical with passengers. Snow moved in, on climbout. Tried circle. Lost control in clouds. Crashed. 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.