Fairchild 24G accident near Athens, Tennessee, May 8, 1993
On May 8, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Fairchild 24G, registered N16897, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, Tennessee (Mcminn County 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Tennessee · Mcminn County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild 24G · all 24Gs on the register
- Registration
- N16897 · registry record · serial 2966
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF LOCAL RAINSHOWERS. AFTER THE RAINSHOWERS, HE TAXIED THE AIRPLANE SEVERAL MINUTES ON THE RAMP BEFORE THE TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CLIMBOUT AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED THROUGH 250 FEET. SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A MOMENT AND FINALLY QUIT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING
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: 830 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1993; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 50A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMI at 7:10 pm
- Destination: MNV Madisonville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; not recorded at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TYS, 40 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.