Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lebanon, Tennessee, January 9, 1997
On January 9, 1997 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N1434X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Tennessee (Lebanon Municipal 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 improper short, soft field takeof. A factor was the pilot's poor in-flight decision to operate over an overcast until near the airplane's maximum endurance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 1997 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Tennessee · Lebanon Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1434X · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7535281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noninstrument-rated private pilot/aircraft broker was ferrying the airplane to a purchaser. He reported that he had been airborne about 4 hours 45 minutes since the last refueling . He was flying over an overcast. The engine oil temperature increased and the engine rpm decreased. He descended through a hole in the clouds, located an empty field and made a forced landing. He stated that as a precaution, he then had 5 gallons of fuel brought from the local airport, about two miles away, and had it put in the airplane. He then elected to takeoff, stating that the oil temperature was now almost normal. During the soft, short field departure, the airplane became airborne prematurely when the takeoff path crossed a terrace. The pilot said airspeed began decreasing, but he was committed to the takeoff. A left turn was begun which resulted in a stall and collision with the ground.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3F7 Bristow OK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: TYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,700 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from BNA, 15 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.