DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The crash of a twin-engine aircraft carrying skydivers last Sunday came one year to the day after another plane crash in Tullahoma.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), on June 8, 2024, at 6:45 a.m. a North American Navion, N91173, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tullahoma.

The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had flown with his mechanic the day before the accident in an attempt to diagnose an intermittent fuel pressure gauge fluctuation and occasional rough running engine during climb. During that flight, they observed the fluctuating fuel pressure indication, but were not able to replicate the rough running engine. The pilot departed on the accident flight the next day with an “estimated” six gallons of fuel in the main fuel tank and between 12 and 14 gallons in the auxiliary tank. The pilot initiated the takeoff from runway 24 with the main fuel tank selected and stated that all indications were normal during the initial climb. While turning onto the crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern at an altitude about 300 feet above ground level, the engine “instantaneously” lost total power. The pilot pitched the airplane for a speed of 80 mph, switched the fuel selector to the auxiliary tank, and “toggled” the fuel boost pump on and off.

The engine “abruptly” began producing power again and the pilot was able to climb the airplane and turned toward runway 06, but shortly thereafter, the engine again lost total power. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest upright before the runway. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He also held a glider rating. His Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) BasicMed qualification was completed on July 9, 2023. The pilot reported 1,555 total hours of flight experience, of which 18 hours was in the accident airplane make and model. Review of photographs provided by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage. During recovery of the airplane, examination of the main fuel tanks revealed no fuel; the auxiliary fuel tanks contained 10 gallons of fuel. The fuel tanks remained intact and there was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site.

The incident remains under investigation.

It was one of three accidents investigated by the NTSB during 2024. The last accident of 2024, which happened on Dec. 12, 2024, is still under investigation and involved a Woldstenholme Dennis Pietenpol Air Camper. Information on that incident will be included once the probe is completed.

However, the first incident in Tullahoma in 2024 has been completed. The cause of that crash was the sudden loss of power near Tullahoma Airport.

According to the NTSB, On Jan. 3, 2024, about 12:26 p.m., a Mooney M20K, N231GG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tullahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the airplane and the accident flight was his first flight in the airplane. The accident flight was also the first flight since the airplane’s most recent annual inspection, which was completed the same day.

The investigation found that no anomalies were noted during the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and engine run-up. The airplane took off uneventfully from runway 36 at Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA), Tullahoma, Tennessee. The pilot made a right turn southeast for the 20-mile flight back to his home airport, Franklin Country Airport (UOS), Sewanee. The pilot had planned to climb to 4,500 ft. mean sea level (msl) for the short flight home. About 3,200 ft. msl (2,000 above ground level), the engine suddenly lost all power without any warning. At that time, the airplane was about 4 miles from THA and the pilot turned back to the airport in an attempt to glide to runway 24. He also tried to restart the engine; however, the starter motor would not rotate the propeller. The pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway, and it impact hilly terrain about 1/2-mile before reaching the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a FAA inspector revealed that it came to rest upright. Both wings and the empennage sustained substantial damage.

Review of maintenance records revealed that the engine had accumulated about 692 hours since its most recent overhaul in 1994. The engine manufacturer recommended overhaul at 1,500 hours of operation or 12 calendar years, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the airplane had not been flown during the 26-month period before the accident flight. The pilot did not purchase fuel before the accident flight and stated that the fuel onboard could have been 2 years old or older.

The reports from the three other crashes can be read here:

Jan. 3, 2024 Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report

June 8, 2024 Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report

Dec. 12, 2024 Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report