Cessna C172M accident near Mc Minnville, Tennessee, July 28, 1991
On July 28, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna C172M, registered N64022, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mc Minnville, Tennessee (Gentry-Thurman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES DURING THE FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Minnville, Tennessee · Gentry-Thurman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C172M
- Registration
- N64022 · no longer on the register · serial 17264968
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/OWNER WAS MOVING HIS AIRPLANE FROM THE LOCAL AIRPORT TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE PRIVATE STRIP, AT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. IT THEN FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNC Mc Minnville TN at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BNA, 45 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.