Piper PA 32RT-300T accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, May 2, 1983
On May 2, 1983 at about 9:07 pm local time, a Piper PA 32RT-300T, registered N22011, was destroyed in an accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- May 2, 1983 · about 9:07 pm local time
- Place
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32RT-300T PA 32RT-30 · all PA 32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N22011 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD AFTER AN IN-FLT FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED WHILE THE ACFT WAS CRUISING. NO EMERGENCY CALLSWERE MADE AND THE ENGINE WHICH WAS THE FIRE SOURCE WAS NOT SHUT DOWN. A REAR SEAT PASSENGER SAID HE TRIED TO OPEN A REARDOOR TO LET OUT SMOKE BUT COULD NOT HOLD THE DOOR OPEN AND PASSED OUT BEFORE THE CRASH LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND UNBOLTED WITH THE BOLTS MISSING. THIS MANIFOLD HAD BEEN REMOVED ON 2 WEEKS BEFORE DURING MAINTENANCE.NO TORQUE VALUE WAS SPECIFIED ON REPLACING THE MANIFOLD NUTS THE TORQUE VALUE IS 160-180 INCH POUNDS. THE RELEASE WAS NOT SIGNED OFF BY THE MECHANIC BUT BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE ACFT.
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
- Flight time: 6,780 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 736 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 26, 1983; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MRC Columbia TN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MRQ Smyrna TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:54 pm from BNA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.