Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Maynardville, Tennessee 37807
Friday, April 27, 1984 18:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN UNCONTROLLED STATE AFTER THE AIRFRAME FAILED IN FLT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT SPINNING OUT OF THE CLOUDS WITH PARTS OF THE AIRFRAME SEPARATING AS IT DESCENDED. THE WEATHER HAD BEEN DESCRIBED TO THE PLT IN 2 WX BRIEFINGS. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WX WAS 3500 FT OVERCAST WITH TOPS AT 8000 FT MSL, LIGHT TURBULENCE BELOW 10,000 FT, FREEZING LEVEL ABOVE 10,000 FT. THERE WAS A FLT PRECAUTION FOR THUNDERSTORMS. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA OF APRX 2000 FT LONG X 50 FT WIDE. PAPER DEBRIS WAS FOUND UP TO 4 MI FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS DIVIDED INTO 2 MAIN SECTIONS WHICH WERE SEPARATED BY A COUNTY ROAD. NE OF THE ROAD WERE PARTS FROM THE EMPENNAGE SECTION. SW OF THE ROAD WERE COMPONENTS FROM THE MAIN FUSELAGE & THE SEPARATED WING ASSEMBLIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1984
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MAYNARDVILLE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37807
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 4
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 1747 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 91
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Unknown
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 5
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2147
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26060
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5502J
NTSB Number ATL84FA151
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-972
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 7 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM MOELLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 214 HIGH ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MADISON
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35753
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REDSTONE ARSENAL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address REDSTONE ARSENAL
Operator City
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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
Departure City HUNTSVILLE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HARRISONBURG
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --