Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Collegedale, Tennessee, September 16, 2003
On September 16, 2003 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2310T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Collegedale, Tennessee (Collegedale Municipal airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to oil exhaustion as a result of the installation of the incorrect quick-drain valve that opened during flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2003 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Collegedale, Tennessee · Collegedale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2310T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7135195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane logbooks revealed that a newly overhauled engine was installed in the airplane on September 15, 2003. According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), this was a maintenance test flight to test the overhauled engine. According to the CFI, about 10 minutes into the flight, there was a partial loss of engine power. The CFI stated, "Approximately one minute later the engine lost complete power with propeller stoppage". Efforts by the CFI to restart the engine failed. As the CFI performed an emergency landing, the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the incorrect oil quick-drain valve was installed on the engine and was in the open position in flight. The vacuum pump drive adapter was also missing a security nut. Evidence of engine oil was present inside the engine cowling area.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2003; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M3 Collegedale TN at 8:33 pm
- Destination: 3M3 Collegedale TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from CHA, 8 miles away
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.