Cessna 337D accident near Nashville, Tennessee, February 10, 1993
On February 10, 1993, a Cessna 337D, registered N861CP, was destroyed in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee (John C. Tune 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1993
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · John C. Tune · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337D · all 337Ds on the register
- Registration
- N861CP · registry record · serial 337-1060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND PROCEEDED VISUALLY TO LAND ON RUNWAY 19. NIGHT, VMC PREVAILED. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A HILL WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 110 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR ENGINE PROPELLERS WERE FEATHERED. THERE WERE ABOUT 4 GALLONS OF FUEL RECOVERED FROM THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM; INCLUDING 3 GALLONS FROM THE LEFT, AUXILIARY TANK. THERE WERE 2 AND 20 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN TANKS, RESPECTIVELY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE OR POST CRASH FUEL LEAKAGE. THE PILOT DID NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT DUE TO HEAD INJURIES, BUT HE REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED ORLANDO, FL WITH 5 HOURS FUEL ON BOARD (96 GALLONS). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 3 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES INTO THE 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1992; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plateau Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 9:13 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.