Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Darden, Tennessee 38328
Tuesady, October 29, 1991 17:32 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE FLYING AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 600 FEET THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. HE HAD NOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A MECHANICAL PROBLEM NOR WERE ANY DISCOVERED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POST MORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MALADY WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM PERFORMING HIS NORMAL DUTIES. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE AND WAS LAST OBSERVED AT 5600 FEET BEFORE DISAPPEARING OFF RADAR. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA ABOUT ONE MILE LONG IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH, THE LEFT WING FLAP ASSEMBLY AND ABOUT A TWO FOOT SECTION OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR TRIM TAB WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR EXAMINATION. THE LEFT WING FLAP ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FORM THE AIRFRAME AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. COMPONENTS FROM THE EMPENNAGE SECTION WERE FOUND ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRFRAME.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1732
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DARDEN
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38328
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID MKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 580
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2040
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46288
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3559J
NTSB Number ATL92FA019
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32-8029021
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 2 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 1752
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HANES, ROGER E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 18727
Aircraft Owner City MEMPHIS
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38118
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HANES, ROGER E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 18727
Operator City MEMPHIS
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38118
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 No
Departure Airport Code DKX
Departure City KNOXVILLE
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MO4
Destination City COVINGTON
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --