Vaughn Challenger accident near Clarksville, Tennessee, May 16, 2020
On May 16, 2020 at about 2:20 pm local time, a 1997 Vaughn Challenger, registered N97KV, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Clarksville, Tennessee (Titan Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2020 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Tennessee · Titan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vaughn Challenger Special, built 1997
- Registration
- N97KV · no longer on the register · serial CH20297CW1548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed the descent, the approach, aligned his airplane with the runway and flew the length of the runway at a power setting of approximately “70 percent.” At the completion of the low pass and a few seconds into the climb, the pilot noticed a “lack of climb performance with full power applied” and performed a forced landing to trees. The pilot stated there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of the airplane prior to initiating the climb. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to “serious icing at glide power.” Following the accident, the airplane’s engine, which was not equipped with carburetor heat, was successfully run on the airframe with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,017 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 319 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 30, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN23 Clarksville TN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: TN23 Clarksville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KHOP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 9, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Memo for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | FAA Saib CE-09-35 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.