Piper PA28-181 accident near New Tazewell, Tennessee, April 2, 2007
On April 2, 2007 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Piper PA28-181, registered N30465, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Tazewell, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the non-instrument rated pilot's continued flight from visual meteorological conditions into instrument meteorological conditions, and a low cloud ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2007 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Tazewell, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-181 · all PA28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N30465 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990092
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, the airplane was observed coming down out of the "clouds" and then climbing back up into the clouds. The second time they saw it come down out of the "clouds it was on its side" and then went out of site and they heard a loud crash. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. The pilot had accumulated less than 200 total hours, and was not instrument rated. He elected to continue his flight into instrument meteorological conditions and lost control.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXV Wapakoneta OH at 11:00 am
- Destination: GKT Pigeon Forge TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from TYS, 40 miles away
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.