Cessna 525 accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, May 16, 2006
On May 16, 2006 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 525, registered N545TG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Murphreesboro Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing on a wet runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2006 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee · Murphreesboro Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 525 · all 525s on the register
- Registration
- N545TG · registry record · serial 525-0545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was cleared by approach control for a visual approach to runway 18 at Murphreesboro Municipal Airport. The pilot tuned up the Airport Terminal Information System information on the airplane radio. The winds were reported at 240-degrees at 3 knots and the runway was wet. The pilot entered the traffic pattern, completed the before landing checklist, lowered the landing gear, and approach flaps on base leg. The pilot turned the airplane on final approach, lowered the flaps to the full down position, and activated the anti skid. The pilot landed the airplane on the first one third of the runway. The pilot stated that a front was approaching the airport and upon touchdown the wind had changed and heavy rains had started. The airplane touched down and started hydroplaning at midfield. The pilot stated there was insufficient runway remaining for him to initiate a go-around. The airplane went off the runway sideways, collapsed the left main landing gear, and came to a complete stop. The pilot completed the engine shutdown and he and the 6 passengers exited the airplane. After exiting the airplane the pilot observed the left flap had separated from the airframe and there was structural damage to the left wing. The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he lost directional control of the airplane as it was hydroplaning down the runway. He further stated there was no mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,700 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 243 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 1, 2006; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Williams International FJ44-1A (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPHF Newport News VA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: KMBT Murphreesboro TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,898 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from MBT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.