Piper PA-28-181 N43334

Summary

On 3 November 2001 at about 07:55 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N43334, operated by Beth Jenkins, was involved in an accident near McEwen, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2001 at 07:55

Classification

Accident

Location

McEwen, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Humphreys County Airport (0M5)

Coordinates

36.1614, -87.6858

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N43334

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Beth Jenkins

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waverly → Clarksville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL02FA008

3 people died.

The pilot initiated a VFR flight into known IMC conditions which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the low ceilings.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot's original destination was Clarksville, Tennessee. However, because of adverse weather conditions in Clarksville, the pilot diverted to Waverly, Tennessee. The pilot contacted the Nashville automated Flight Service Station at about 2200 and again at about 0100 for a weather brief. The pilot limited the brief by only asking what Ft. Campbell, was reporting for visibility. At both times Ft. Campbell, Kentucky was reporting less then three miles visibility and fog. Shortly after 0130, the non-instrument rated private pilot, initiated VFR flight into IMC conditions. The airplane was last seen on radar at about 0155 in the vicinity of the accident site, circling, at about 1600 feet mean sea level. Examination of the wreckage found that the airplane had cartwheeled left wing first, then the nose, followed by the right wing, until it came to rest against a tree line. Further examination did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction, and there was no evidence of pilot impairment or incapacitation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.