Piper PA-28-201T accident near Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 19, 1985
On October 19, 1985 at about 2:54 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N2854S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chattanooga, Tennessee (Lovell Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 19, 1985 · about 2:54 pm local time
- Place
- Chattanooga, Tennessee · Lovell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2854S · no longer on the register · serial 28-7921066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT LOST TOTAL POWER DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB AND ATTEMPTED AN FORCED LANDING IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE AND SLID INVERTED APPROXIMATELY 250 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE NUMBER 1 CONNECTING ROD BROKE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER.
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
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 619 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1985; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHA Chattanoga TN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from CHA, 1 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.