Piper PA-28-181 accident near Oliver Springs, Tennessee, October 18, 2009
On October 18, 2009 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N7906W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Oliver Springs, Tennessee (Oliver Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2009 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Oliver Springs, Tennessee · Oliver Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N7906W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1936
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on the wet turf runway, most likely with a slight tailwind, the airplane touched down and bounced back airborne. The airplane touched down again and turned about 45 degrees to the left, skidding toward the woods. Just prior to reaching the woods, the airplane's course began to straighten and it continued through a fence. The airplane subsequently swung around where its left side impacted a tree in the vicinity of the pilot's seat. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Post-mortem toxicology testing detected an over-the-counter decongestant, antihistamine, and cough suppressant in the pilot’s urine, but not blood, suggesting use no later than the previous evening of an over-the-counter night-time cold/allergy preparation. It is unlikely that the pilot would have been impaired by such use at the time of the accident.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 228 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 2009; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 series (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Oak Ridge Flyers INC
The flight
- Departed from: TN08 Oliver Springs TN at 5:15 pm
- Destination: TN08 Oliver Springs TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,800 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.35 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from OQT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N7906W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.