North American T28B N3178U

Summary

On 23 November 1996 at about 21:45 local time, a North American T28B registered N3178U was involved in an accident near Somerville, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 November 1996 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Somerville, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.2294, -89.3504

Aircraft

North American T28B

Registration

N3178U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Olive Branch → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA028

1 person died.

the pilot misjudged his altitude/clearance above trees on terrain that was higher than the surrounding terrain, while performing an aerobatic maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the airplane in aerobatic flight, above a private airstrip, which was less than a mile from the crash site. According to the witness, the airplane flew down the runway about 200 to 400 feet above the ground in straight and level flight. The witness said that he stepped inside for less then a minute, and when he returned outside, the airplane had crashed and was burning. This was a common area for this pilot and others to 'perform and practice low altitude maneuvers and aerobatics.' The area surrounding the accident site was level, but where the airplane first struck trees, the terrain was higher than most of the surrounding area. Based on witness accounts, there was evidence that the pilot miscalculated his altitude over the higher terrain, and that he was in 'inverted flight' before striking the trees. No discrepancies were found with the engine or airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.