Cessna 182P accident near Sale Creek, Tennessee, April 29, 2004
On April 29, 2004 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N2277M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sale Creek, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the pilot's alcohol impairment that resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2004 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Sale Creek, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N2277M · no longer on the register · serial 182-63275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to local authorities, they observed the airplane flying in an erratic manner. The airplane disappeared in the distance and a 911 emergency call was reported that an airplane had gone down. Local authorities that arrived on scene stated that the pilot stated "that the airplane was running out of gas before it collided with the ground". Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane rested in a nose low attitude and the engine was displaced to the left, and the engine was displaced downward and remained attached to the engine mounts. During the post-accident examination, the engine was prepared for a functional test. The engine started, ran for 10 minutes and developed power. The local authorities also reported that the pilot "had a strong odor of intoxicant" coming from his person. The owner of the airplane reported that the pilot in command was unauthorized to use the airplane. Review of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department incident report revealed the pilots (Alcohol Medical test showed 212 MG/DL (0.212%).
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,757 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2003; 2,757 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Soddy Daisy TN
- Destination: Soddy Daisy TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from CHA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.