Piper PA-28-140 N43421

Summary

On 14 January 2010 at about 10:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N43421, operated by Gospel Ministries International, was involved in an accident near Collegedale, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one 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

14 January 2010 at 10:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Collegedale, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Collegedale (FGU)

Coordinates

35.0397, -85.0219

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N43421

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gospel Ministries International

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Collegedale → Jasper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA10CA114

1 person had minor injuries.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.