# NTSB IAD80FKW10: Piper PA-32, N649TP, Gatlinburg, TN, March 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1980
- Place: Gatlinburg, TN · GATLINBURG, TN
- Location: 35.7250° N, 83.4937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gatlinburg, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7250&lon=-83.4937&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FKW10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FKW10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0249  80/3/20  NR.GATLINBURG,TN      PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1100                    N649TP              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  AGE 34, 740 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            31 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RUTHERFORD,NC               GATLINBURG,TN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.DESTINATION FOGGED IN.CAUSE OF ELECT FAILURE NOT DETERMINED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N649TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N649TP), registered now, S/N 28-7921039 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-201t) (registry code 7102819) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800320007239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800320007239A), Mar 20, 1980: Piper PA32300, Gatlinburg, TN, Destroyed. Lost radios en route IFR. Electrical system failure. Tried visual landing. Overshot landing area.

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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