Mcghee Tyson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alcoa, Tennessee 37701
Friday, December 9, 1988 6:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS IN FLIGHT AND EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS MAINTAINING ALTITUDES AND HEADINGS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT FROM HIS PLANNED DESTINATION OF DAYTON, OH TO KNOXVILLE, TN. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AFTER DESCENDING 1300 FT BELOW MINIMUM PROCEDURE TURN ALTITUDE FOLLOWED BY BEING TOLD THE AIRCRAFT WAS WELL ABOVE THE GLIDESLOPE, ATC INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ATC REPORTED THE MODE C INDICATED 1900. THE PILOT RESPONDED WITH 'ENGINE QUIT'. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A PASTURE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO OPERATE IN ICING CONDITIONS. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR WERE EXTENDED. APPROXIMATELY 40 LBS OF COCAINE WERE FOUND ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE TOX REPORT FOR THE PILOT DISCLOSED .05 MG/L BENZOYLECGONITE (COCAINE METABOLITE) IN HIS BLOOD. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FREEZING LEVEL AT 7000 FT AND FILED A FLIGHT PLAN REQUESTING A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 14000 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/9/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 600
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ALCOA
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37701
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 12
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 981
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 550 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2079
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 9 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38596
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N120G
NTSB Number ATL89FA054
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 AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 720
Aircraft Series Identifier 720
Aircraft Serial Number 720-630-3
Certified Max Gross Weight 7500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COMMUTER CRAFT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 570 S. DAYTON LAKEVIEW ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NEW CARLISLE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45344
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COMMUTER CRAFT INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 570 S. DAYTON LAKEVIEW RD
Operator City NEW CARLISLE
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45344
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 FLL
Departure City FORT LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 130
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TYS
Destination City ALCOA
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 5L
Runway Length 8006
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --