Aviat A1 accident near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, October 20, 2023
On October 20, 2023 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2022 Aviat A1, registered N958TW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tellico Plains, Tennessee (Pvt 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 overapplication of brakes after landing long on a constrained runway and with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2023 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tellico Plains, Tennessee · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 C200, built 2022
- Registration
- N958TW · registry record · serial 3403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was attempting to land on his 1,200-ft-long private airstrip. When he flew by the windsock to check wind direction and speed, he noticed a significant crosswind was prevailing. After turning onto final approach, and after passing the point at which a go-around could be performed due to trees and terrain off the end of the runway, he noticed the wind had changed direction and was now a strong tailwind. He continued the approach and landed more than halfway down the runway, then aggressively applied the brakes to attempt to stop. The airplane subsequently nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,153 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,153 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2023; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1D6 (piston); 142 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDKX Knoxville TN at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 360, 1,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from RHP, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRHP 202010Z AUTO 27009G18KT 10SM SCT050 SCT070 BKN095 20/08 A2968 RMK AO2 T02000075
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 2023. 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 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA017.