Piper PA-28-181 N7906W

Summary

On 18 October 2009 at about 17:47 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N7906W, operated by OAK Ridge Flyers Inc, was involved in an accident near Oliver Springs, Tennessee, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 October 2009 at 17:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Oliver Springs, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Oliver Springs (TN08)

Coordinates

36.0375, -84.3069

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N7906W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

OAK Ridge Flyers Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oliver Springs → Oliver Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10FA020

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While landing on the wet turf runway, most likely with a slight tailwind, the airplane touched down and bounced back airborne. The airplane touched down again and turned about 45 degrees to the left, skidding toward the woods. Just prior to reaching the woods, the airplane's course began to straighten and it continued through a fence. The airplane subsequently swung around where its left side impacted a tree in the vicinity of the pilot's seat. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Post-mortem toxicology testing detected an over-the-counter decongestant, antihistamine, and cough suppressant in the pilot’s urine, but not blood, suggesting use no later than the previous evening of an over-the-counter night-time cold/allergy preparation. It is unlikely that the pilot would have been impaired by such use at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.