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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 29, 1991 · Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · N3559J

Darden, TN

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 29, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Darden, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301
Tail Number
N3559J
Operator
Hanes Roger E
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL92FA019

While flying at a cruise altitude of 600 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane for undetermined reasons. He had not reported experiencing a mechanical problem, nor were any discovered during the examination of the wreckage at the accident site. There was no significant weather observed at the time of the accident. The post mortem examination of the pilot failed to disclose a malady which would have prevented the pilot from performing his normal duties. However, the airplane descended from the assigned altitude and was last observed at 5600 feet before disappearing off radar. Wreckage was scattered over an area about one mile long in the opposite direction of the intended flight path. The left wing flap assembly and about a two foot section of the right horizontal stabilator trim tab were not recovered for examination. The left wing flap assembly separated from the airframe and was located about 1/2 mile west of the main wreckage. Components from the empennage section were found about one mile from the main wreckage.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRFRAME.

Full Narrative

WHILE FLYING AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 600 FEET THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. HE HAD NOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A MECHANICAL PROBLEM NOR WERE ANY DISCOVERED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POST MORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MALADY WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM PERFORMING HIS NORMAL DUTIES. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE AND WAS LAST OBSERVED AT 5600 FEET BEFORE DISAPPEARING OFF RADAR. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA ABOUT ONE MILE LONG IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH, THE LEFT WING FLAP ASSEMBLY AND ABOUT A TWO FOOT SECTION OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR TRIM TAB WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR EXAMINATION. THE LEFT WING FLAP ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FORM THE AIRFRAME AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. COMPONENTS FROM THE EMPENNAGE SECTION WERE FOUND ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:32 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301
Tail NumberN3559J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHanes Roger E
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40°
Visibility4 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data