# NTSB IAD80FA016: Piper PA-23, N3242P, Knoxville, TN, December 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1979
- 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: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3669  79/12/14   KNOXVILLE,TN        PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 1360
        TIME - 1450                    N3242P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DOWNTOWN-ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KNOXVILLE,TN                HARLAN,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INCORRECT TRIM SETTING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ELEVATOR TRIM SET FULL NOSE UP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3242P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3242P-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 23-1187, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Downtown-Island

## 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 19791214040889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791214040889A), Dec 14, 1979: Piper PA23, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed. Made takeoff with full up elevator trim. Lost control. Airplane rolled. Impacted vertically adjacent to runway.

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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