Cessna 172P accident near Red Bank, Tennessee, February 22, 1983
On February 22, 1983 at about 8:36 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54498, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Bank, Tennessee (Lovell Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- February 22, 1983 · about 8:36 am local time
- Place
- Red Bank, Tennessee · Lovell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54498 · no longer on the register · serial 172-74989
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT APRX 2200 EST, THE ACFT DEPARTED LANSING, IL ON A FLT TO COLUMBUS, GA. A PASSENGER STATED THAT A REFUELING STOP HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR EITHER BOWLING GREEN OR NASHVILLE. HOWEVER, A STOP WAS NOT MADE. THE PASSENGER INDICATED THAT THE PILOTS WERE UNSURE OF THE ACFT'S POSITION DURING THE FLT. AT APRX 0303 EST, THE AIRCREW CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER & REQUESTED MILEAGE TO CHATTANOOGA. AT ABOUT 0328, CENTER NOTIFIED THEM THAT THE ACFT WAS APRX 28 MI NORTHWEST OF CHATTANOOGA. THE AIRCREW THEN REQUESTED TO BE ALIGNED FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APCH DUE TO LOW FUEL. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE AIRCREW TRANSMITTED THAT THEY HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL & WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THE ARPT. DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, THEN IMPACTED IN A PARKING LOT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 12, 1983; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3HA Lansing IL
- Destination: CSG Columbus GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 am from CHA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.