Amateur-built MINIMAX accident near Franklin, Tennessee, February 18, 1994
On February 18, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MINIMAX, registered NONE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SECURE CARGO IN THE COCKPIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MINIMAX
- Registration
- NONE · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, WHILE MANEUVERING, THE FLIGHT CONTROLS JAMMED AND LIMITED FLIGHT CONTROLLABILITY. A VISUAL CHECK OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM BY THE STUDENT PILOT, FROM THE COCKPIT, FAILED TO REVEAL AN AIRPLANE PROBLEM. HE ESTABLISHED AN EMERGENCY GLIDE AND ONCE THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER A CLEAR AREA THE STUDENT PILOT DEPLOYED THE ONBOARD RECOVERY PARACHUTE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HE PLACED A SPARE RADIO BATTERY ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE COCKPIT AND BELIEVED THAT THE BATTERY PACK JAMMED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 82 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 560 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from BNA, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under NONE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL94LA050.