Piper PA-28R accident near Sewanee, Tennessee, September 3, 1982
On September 3, 1982 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R, registered N4976S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sewanee, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1982 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sewanee, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R · all PA-28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4976S · registry record · serial 28R35692
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENROUTE THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO & SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PROP SEIZED DUE TO OIL STARVATION. POST EXAM REVEALED A CRACK IN THE PROP GOVERNOR OIL LINE, P/N76157, AT THE BEND ABOUT 1 INCH AWAY FROM THE "B" NUT ATTACHING THE LINE TO THE ELBOW FITTING AT THE FORWARD END OF THE ENG. THE TWO SUPPORT BRACKETS, AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE PARTS MANUAL, WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE STAINLESS STEEL LINE ALLOWING THE LINE TO VIBRATE & FLEX. THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 75 HRS PRIOR TO 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,117 hours in all; 469 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,372 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Atlanta GA at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Decatur IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.