Cessna T210N accident near Soddy Daisey, Tennessee, November 4, 1984
On November 4, 1984 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N64276, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soddy Daisey, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 4, 1984 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Soddy Daisey, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N64276 · no longer on the register · serial 64276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO TREES DURING IFR WEATHER AFTER HAVING A TTL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE PLT CONTINUED NAVIGATING BY DEAD RECKONING AND NOT FINDING A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS DECIDED TO DESCEND THROUGH THE CLOUDS. THE TOPS OF TREES WERE STRUCK ON A RIDGE AT THE 1850 FT LEVEL. BROKEN TO OVERCAST CONDITIONS EXISTED AT BOTH CHATTANOOGA AND KNOXSVILLE BTW 1200 AND 2200 FT MSL. THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ON WHICH THE ACFT CRASHED SAID HE HEARD THE IMPACT BUT COULD NOT SEE THEACFT BECAUSE FOG COVERED THE RIDGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A FIELD WIRE HAD PULLED OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 848 hours in all; 422 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 748 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 451 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1984; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head SC
- Destination: TYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:06 pm from CHA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N64276 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.