Mcghee Tyson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Knoxville, Tennessee 37101
Wednesday, July 16, 1997 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he did a preflight inspection and found no discrepancies. During his takeoff climb, the engine started running rough, and subsequently, it stopped running. The pilot initiated an emergency landing into a field, and the airplane encountered rough terrain, which resulted in substantial to the airplane. Visual examination of the airplane revealed that the oil dipstick was loose. Isolated areas of oil wetness were found in the vicinity of the #2 cylinder base and around the right rear accessory section. Oil was also found on the lower right hand windshield, on the nose landing gear doors, and down 50% of the belly of the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight by failing to ensure the oil filler cap was secured during his preflight inspection, and loss of engine oil (oil exhaustion), which resulted in subsequent engine failure. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a successful forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City KNOXVILLE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37101
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MCGHEE TYSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TYS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 981
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2471
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 759
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1320
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52120
NTSB Number ATL97LA104
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 177RG
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG1173
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 17 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID W. TAYLOR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 502 MEMORIAL PLACE
Aircraft Owner City FARMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63640
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TYS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAM
Destination City FARMINGTON
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23L
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --