Mitchell Aircraft CORP T-10 accident near Ashland City, Tennessee, July 24, 2001
On July 24, 2001, a Mitchell Aircraft CORP T-10, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3221X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland City, Tennessee (Whifferdill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The restricted movement of the rudder cable, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2001
- Place
- Ashland City, Tennessee · Whifferdill · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitchell Aircraft CORP T-10, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3221X · no longer on the register · serial 101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff from the private grass strip, the CFI reported an " extreme vibration" in the airplane. He retarded the throttle and the vibration diminished. When the CFI banked the airplane to return to the private grass strip, the left wing dropped excessively. As engine power was increased to maintain a climb, the airplane made an uncommaded roll and began descending. The airplane collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground. The post-impact examination of the airplane showed that the left rudder cable had binded in the in the wing and the left rudder would ont travel about half the normal distance. The rudder assemblies are returned to the neutral position by spring action; the rudder assembly is designed to move in only one direction.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: powered-lift; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 27, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN77 Ashland City TN at 11:05 pm
- Destination: Ashland City TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,200 ft by 125 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 999° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.