Piper PA-28-235 accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, August 14, 1987
On August 14, 1987 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8661W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Downtown Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 14, 1987 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8661W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CLBD NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT, THEN THE ENG LOST PWR W/O WARNING. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE ACFT WAS LNDD & SANK IN A RIVER, SHORT OF AN OPEN FLD. WHEN THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WATER, THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS FOUND ABOUT 1-1/8 INCH FROM THE FULL RICH POSITION. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE ENG WAS DRIED OUT & SERVICED WITH NEW OIL. AN ENG RUN WAS MADE, BUT THE POWER WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 1500 RPM TO AVOID VIBRATION DUE TO A BENT PROP. THE PLT SAID THAT AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF, HE HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE DUE TO THE AMBIENT TEMP. THE 1452 TEMP AT KNOXVILLE WAS 88 DEG.
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: 431 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BMI Bloomington IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from TYS, 10 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.