Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morrison, Tennessee 37357
Saturday, December 25, 1993 12:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A NON-CERTIFIED PILOT DECIDED TO TAKE A PASSENGER FOR AN AIRPLANE RIDE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A SNOWSTORM MOVED INTO THE AREA. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER A GO-AROUND, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND, WHEN THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED INTO CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ISSUED A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE IN DECEMBER 1982. NO OTHER FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS OFFICIALLY RECORDED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/25/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MORRISON
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37357
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID RNC
Elevation of weather observation facility 1028
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1596
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1140
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N447TB
NTSB Number ATL94LA031
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CARSON
Aircraft Model PIEL EMERAUDE CP305
Aircraft Series Identifier PIEL EMERA
Aircraft Serial Number 1169
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH, RICHARD J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1909 BUTTERNUT
Aircraft Owner City METAIRIE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHERRELL, JOE K.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR 1
Operator City MORRISON
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37357
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --