Piper PA-32-301 accident near Sewanee, Tennessee, October 1, 1983
On October 1, 1983 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8349Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sewanee, Tennessee (Franklin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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
- October 1, 1983 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sewanee, Tennessee · Franklin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8349Z · no longer on the register · serial 32-8306008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING LANDING ROLL. THE PLT HAS RECOUNTED SEVERAL VARIATIONS OF THE ACCIDENT FROM LOCKED BRAKES (PARKING) TO A FLAT LEFT TIRE WITH FULL RIGHT RUDDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THERE WAS A LEFT TIRE SKID MARK FROM TOUCHDOWN ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE RIGHT TIRE LEFT A SKID MARK ALSO ABOUT 100 FT LATER. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTERS ACCOUNT THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT USE THE BRAKES DURING LANDING. ANOTHER WITNESS SAYS BOTH TIRES LEFT SKID MARKS STARTING 800 FT FROM THE RWY THRESHOLD.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,082 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 2,706 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 211 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1983; 211 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVK Danville KY at 9:05 pm
- Destination: UOS Sewanee TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8349Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.