Sky Cox Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Knoxville, Tennessee 37901
Saturday, January 8, 2005 22:02 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses reported hearing the engine running as the airplane flew overhead followed by a loud "thump." The airplane collided with trees approximately 2/3 mile from the approach end of the north runway. The airplane came to rest in the trees, 40 to 50 feet above the ground in an upright and nose low attitude. Examination of the accident site disclosed that wreckage debris was scattered over an area 300 feet long on a 40 degrees magnetic heading. The post-accident examination of the airframe and engine failed to disclose any mechanical problems or component failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance, which resulted in the in-flight collision with trees. A factor was dark night.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/8/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2202
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Knoxville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37901
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355270N
Event Location Longitude 0835798W
Event Location Airport Sky Cox Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TN98
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2153 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KTYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.34
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19108
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N501B
NTSB Number ATL05LA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-1523
Certified Max Gross Weight 3125
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 Jun 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 3962
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Susan D Grubbs
Aircraft Owner Street Address 204 Ailsie Dr
Aircraft Owner City Knoxville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37920
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Knoxville
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37920
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 TN98
Departure City Knoxville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2132
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? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2005 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --