Tennessee

While in cruising altitude under IFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather with icing conditions. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in an open field located near Spring City. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

A United Air Lines, Inc., Vickers Viscount 745D, N7405, Flight 823, crashed 2-1/4 rules northeast of Parrottsville Tennessee, at 1815 e.s.t., July 9, 1964. Thirty-four passengers and the four crew members died in the crash. One passenger died of injuries following a free fall from the aircraft before the crash. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and impact damage. Flight 823 was a regularly scheduled operation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama, with en route stops at Washington, D. C., and Knoxville, Tennessee. The flight operated without any reported discrepancies or difficulties until approximately 1810 e.s.t., when it was observed flying at low altitude trailing smoke. The flight continued in a southwesterly direction and at a point approximately 1.6 nautical rules before the impact site, a passenger was seen falling from the aircraft, and a short time later a cabin window was seen falling. The aircraft was then observed going into a nose-high attitude, the left wing and the nose went down, and the aircraft dived into the ground, exploded, and burned.

Shortly after takeoff from Memphis Airport, the pilot reported engine problems and elected to return for a safe landing. Unable to maintain control of the airplane, he attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While cruising in a limited visibility due to snow showers, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in flames near Knoxville. All six occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the ceiling was at 2,000 feet and the visibility was limited due to snow falls. Also, the mountain was shrouded in clouds.

Following an uneventful flight, the crew started the approach to Nashville Airport in poor weather conditions with fog, rain showers and a 400 feet ceiling. After touchdown, the airplane suffered an asymmetrical thrust reversal. Due to high pressure, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid on runway for several yards before coming to rest. All 45 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

The approach to Millington was completed by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, the pilot declared an emergency as an engine failed. As the aircraft was not properly aligned with the runway, the crew elected to make a go around. A second attempt to land was completed in thunderstorm activity when the airplane stalled, hit a pecan tree and crashed in Hill Street, just near some houses. On ground, it lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. All 33 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The crew was involved in a local training mission at Smyrna-Sewart AFB, Tennessee. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left, lost height and crashed near the runway end. All five crew members were killed.

On August 6, 1962, at 1731 e.s.t., Flight 414, an American Airlines, Inc., Lockhead Electra, N 6102A, crashed during a landing on runway 4L at McGhee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee. Sixty-seven passengers and five crew members were on board the aircraft. All escaped injury except one passenger who suffered a minor injury. The aircraft was substantially damaged. During the landing made by the captain in an area of thunderstorm activity and heavy rain showers, the aircraft skidded to the right off the runway. It struck a newly constructed taxiway the surface of which was approximately 17 inches above ground level, causing failure of the right main landing gear. The right wing became separated front the aircraft. The remainder of the aircraft continued to deviate to the right off the side of the runway for a short distance and came to rest 3,010 feet from the approach end of the runway on a heading of 200 degrees magnetic.

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a flight from Biggs AAF and Davison AAF (Fort Belvoir, Virginia). While cruising by night, he did not realized he was flying too low when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area on Mt Holston located near Piney Flats, Tennessee. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

During a night approach to Bristol-Tr-Cities Airport, the airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Holston located 15 miles from runway 27 threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all ten occupants were killed. The evidence indicates Flight 308 departed Nashville, Tennessee, with an inoperative radio compass. Although the flight was cleared by way of low frequency airway Green 5, it does not appear that the facilities defining this airway were used. Upon arriving in the Tri-Cities area the aircraft was east of its intended track and erroneously identified the reporting point from which an ILS approach procedure was to be initiated. During the instrument approach, which was conducted in snow showers, the flight missed the outer marker. The approach was continued under instrument conditions without utilizing the VOR facility which would have been of assistance in confirming the flight's position. Without having clearly established his position, the pilot flew 15 miles beyond the outer marker and descended to an altitude too low to clear high terrain in this area.