Piper PA-22-150 accident near Memphis, Tennessee, January 25, 1984
On January 25, 1984 at about 1:31 am local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N46RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis Intern. airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 25, 1984 · about 1:31 am local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Memphis Intern. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N46RS · registry record · serial 22-3944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STRUCK A POWERLINE AND CRASHED 1.5 MI SOUTH OF MEMPHIS AIRPORT WHILE ON A ILS LOCALIZER APP TO RWY 36R. THE WX AT THE TIME OF ACC WAS CEILING 200 FT, VISIBILITY 3/4 MILE WITH FOG. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A VOR LOCALIZER, BUT NO GLIDE SLOOP INDICATOR.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,253 hours in all; 710 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1983; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAH Paducah KY at 9:50 pm
- Destination: MEM Mehphis TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36R, 8,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded at 200 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.