Amateur-built QUICKIE accident near Paris, Tennessee, November 13, 1985
On November 13, 1985 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKIE, registered N4974A, was destroyed in an accident near Paris, Tennessee (Paris-Henry County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 13, 1985 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Paris, Tennessee · Paris-Henry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKIE
- Registration
- N4974A · registry record · serial 363-2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD COMPLETED SEVERAL HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS IN THE HOMEBUILT ACFT PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED FLT. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50-100 FT AND REACHED A SPEED OF APPRX 65 MPH. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NOR CLIMB ANY FURTHER. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A TURN BACK TO THE ARPT AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING OFF THE ARPT. THE ACFT HIT A FENCE AND CARTWHEELED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD NOT DEVELOPED FULL RPM DURING THE TAKEOFF AND THAT PART OF THE COWLING WAS NOT INSTALLED FOR THIS FLIGHT.
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: 105 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 15, 1985; 15 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wedtech SP 440 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from HOP, 48 miles away
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.