Piper PA-28-140 accident near Collegedale, Tennessee, January 14, 2010
On January 14, 2010 at about 10:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N43421, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Collegedale, Tennessee (Collegedale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb after takeoff in dark light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2010 · about 10:10 am local time
- Place
- Collegedale, Tennessee · Collegedale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N43421 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7425365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was departing from runway 3, a 4,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway, during night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost sight of outside visual references after takeoff due to darkness, and that he was not initially aware that the airplane was turning to the left. He added that he momentarily "did not pay attention" to the airplane's instruments, and that when he realized that the airplane was turning it was "too late." The airplane struck trees located off the left side of the runway, and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited a postcrash fire substantially consumed the airplane. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's logbook was consumed by fire.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,940 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gospel Ministries International
The flight
- Departed from: FGU Collegedale TN at 10:08 am
- Destination: APT Jasper TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from CHA, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.