Collegedale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Collegedale, Tennessee 37302
Thursday, January 14, 2010 6:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was departing from runway 3, a 4,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway, during night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost sight of outside visual references after takeoff due to darkness, and that he was not initially aware that the airplane was turning to the left. He added that he momentarily "did not pay attention" to the airplane's instruments, and that when he realized that the airplane was turning it was "too late." The airplane struck trees located off the left side of the runway, and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited a postcrash fire substantially consumed the airplane. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's logbook was consumed by fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb after takeoff in dark light conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/14/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Collegedale
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37302
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350223N
Event Location Longitude 0850119W
Event Location Airport Collegedale
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FGU
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 860
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 683
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.3
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26651
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 19 2010 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43421
NTSB Number ERA10CA114
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7425365
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4940
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GOSPEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City OOLTEWAH
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37363-1007
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GOSPEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City OOLTEWAH
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37363-1007
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 FGU
Departure City Collegedale
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 608
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code APT
Destination City Jasper
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 19 2010 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 4700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --