Piper PA-28-181 accident near Athens, Tennessee, October 22, 1982
On October 22, 1982 at about 1:12 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N21678, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- October 22, 1982 · about 1:12 am local time
- Place
- Athens, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N21678 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. ON 10/15/82 HE RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION IN A C-172 & ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CHECKED OUT IN THE PA-28. HIS CERTIFICATE WAS NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT. AT 1716 THE PLT ACTIVATED A VFR FLT PLAN. AT APPROXIMATELY 2107 THE PLT DECLARED A "LIMITED EMERGENCY" WITH ATLANTA ARTCC. HE TOLD THE CONTOLLER HE WAS EXTREMEMLY LOW ON FUEL & WANTED TO GO STRAIGHT TO AN ARPT. THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT MCMINN COUNTY ARPT WAS AT 12 O'CLOCK & 7 MI. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A PASTURE 1-1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT. ABOUT 1 QT OF FUEL WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 306 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,286 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C New Orleans LA at 4:10 pm
- Destination: C Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 118°F (48°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CHA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.