# NTSB IAD78FA028: Cessna 421B, N41037, Knoxville, TN, January 3, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 3, 1978
- Place: Knoxville, TN · KNOXVILLE, TN
- Location: 35.9606° N, 83.9207° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Knoxville, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9606&lon=-83.9207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0328   78/1/3  NR.KNOXVILLE,TN       CESSNA 421B         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 707
        TIME - 1923                    N41037              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FORT LAUDERDALE,FL          MACON,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT CLEARED TO DESCEND AT PLT DISCRETION TO 2500FT 34 MILES S OF A/P. ACFT STRUCK MT AT 3800FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41037](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41037-1978-06-21), registration cancelled 1978-06-21, S/N 421B0571, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mcghee Tyson

## 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 19780103005469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780103005469A), Jan 3, 1978: Cessna 421, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Acft cleared to descend at plt discretion to 2500FT 34 miles s of. Acft struck mt at 3800FT.

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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