Amateur-built FERGY II accident near Nashville, Tennessee, April 25, 1994
On April 25, 1994 at about 11:18 pm local time, a amateur-built FERGY II, registered N71797, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee. 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 MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM A UTILITY WIRE DURING CLIMBOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1994 · about 11:18 pm local time · cases in 1994
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FERGY II
- Registration
- N71797 · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM THE SOD AIRSTRIP, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO COLLIDE WITH A UTILITY LINE ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE NEAREST WEATHER REPORTING SITE REPORTED LIGHT WINDS WITH NO GUST. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 300 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 225 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from BNA, 12 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N71797 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 503 449 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,533 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL94LA086.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.