# NTSB ERA10CA006: Piper PA-28-140, N95472, Gainesboro, TN, October 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2009, 19:45 local (Oct 5, 2009, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Gainesboro, TN - Coordinates: 36.348191, -85.655608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3482&lon=-85.6556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74848/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74848 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees. Contributing to the accident were the rising terrain and night light conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a visual flight rules cross-county flight, the pilot elected to make an unscheduled landing to obtain updated weather information. The pilot subsequently elected to depart from runway 36, a 3,500-foot-long, unlighted, asphalt runway. It was a dark night and the pilot used glow sticks to illuminate points around the runway. The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial climb were normal, but that he did not have any further recollection of the flight. The airplane subsequently impacted trees along rising terrain northwest of the airport, substantially damaging the airplane. A witness who heard the airplane depart stated that the engine noise was "loud" with no fluctuations. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. The pilot received his private pilot certificate about 3 months prior to the accident and reported about 120 hours of total flight experience. ## Factual narrative During a visual flight rules cross-county flight, the pilot elected to make an unscheduled landing to obtain updated weather information. The pilot subsequently elected to depart from runway 36, a 3,500-foot-long, unlighted, asphalt runway. It was a dark night, and the pilot utilized "glow sticks" to illuminate points around the runway. The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial climb were normal. He did not have any further recollection of the flight. The airplane subsequently impacted trees along rising terrain northwest of the airport, substantially damaging the airplane. A witness who heard the airplane depart stated that the engine noise was "loud" with no fluctuations. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. The pilot received his private pilot certificate about 3 months prior to the accident and reported about 120 hours of total flight experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95472](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95472-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 28-25980, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25980 - Airframe hours: 5532 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Duran Jerome J - Registered owner: Duran Jerome J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2009 - Departed: 1A7, Gainesboro, TN - Destination: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 1A7, Jackson County, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 120 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: CSV, 38 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 20091004050809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091004050809A), Oct 4, 2009: Piper PA-28-140, Gainesboro, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot departed after dark on unlighted/no lights runway with his family onboard. Rain and windy, he used glow sticks to mark end of runway. Aircraft crashed… ## Other investigations on N95472 (2) 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. - [NTSB CHI88LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA211), Aug 14, 1988: Piper PA-28-140 (N95472), Hobart, IN, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI71DEE73](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71DEE73), May 6, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N95472), Lansing, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74848. 743 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 655 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Interview Memorandums (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Memorandums-Master.PDF 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.