Piper PA-28-181 accident near Mcewen, Tennessee, November 3, 2001
On November 3, 2001 at about 7:55 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N43334, was destroyed in an accident near Mcewen, Tennessee (Humphreys County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2001 · about 7:55 am local time
- Place
- Mcewen, Tennessee · Humphreys County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N43334 · registry record · serial 28-8490035
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,601 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,220 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 1, 2001; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OM5 Waverly TN at 7:15 am
- Destination: CKV Clarksville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HOP, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.