Amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE CP305 accident near Morrison, Tennessee, December 25, 1993
On December 25, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE CP305, registered N447TB, was destroyed in an accident near Morrison, Tennessee (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morrison, Tennessee · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIEL EMERAUDE CP305 PIEL EMERA
- Registration
- N447TB · no longer on the register · serial 1169
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NON-CERTIFIED PILOT DECIDED TO TAKE A PASSENGER FOR AN AIRPLANE RIDE. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A SNOWSTORM MOVED INTO THE AREA. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER A GO-AROUND, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND, WHEN THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED INTO CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ISSUED A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE IN DECEMBER 1982. NO OTHER FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS OFFICIALLY RECORDED.
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: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots, gusting 21
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from RNC, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.