Narrative:
The DC-3 departed Nashville for a flight to Knoxville and Tri-City with an inoperative radio compass. This defect was not entered in the aircraft log. The first leg of the flight was uneventful, apart from a 27 minute delay in the departure from Knoxville. Approaching Tri-City, the flight crew were cleared for an instrument runway 27 approach. Weather reported was 900 feet broken ceiling, 1700 feet overcast, visibility 3 miles, light snow, fog. The flight crew later reported not being able to pick up the Outer Marker visually, nor aurally due to problems with the ADF. The aircraft had passed east of the Outer Marker, turning beyond the normal procedure turn area and descending below surrounding terrain. The aircraft crashed on the northwest side of the rugged and heavily wooded Holston mountain range.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to identify Gray intersection properly and his decision to continue an ILS approach contrary to company and regulatory procedures."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 8 January 1959 |
| Time: | 20:32 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3A-197B |
| Operator: | Southeast Airlines |
| Registration: | N18941 |
| MSN: | 2007 |
| First flight: | 1938 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 56755 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Mt. Holston, TN ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Knoxville-McGhee Tyson Airport, TN (TYS/KTYS), United States of America |
| Bristol, VA/Johnson City/Kingsport-Tri-Cities Regional, TN (TRI/KTRI), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 308 |
The DC-3 departed Nashville for a flight to Knoxville and Tri-City with an inoperative radio compass. This defect was not entered in the aircraft log. The first leg of the flight was uneventful, apart from a 27 minute delay in the departure from Knoxville. Approaching Tri-City, the flight crew were cleared for an instrument runway 27 approach. Weather reported was 900 feet broken ceiling, 1700 feet overcast, visibility 3 miles, light snow, fog. The flight crew later reported not being able to pick up the Outer Marker visually, nor aurally due to problems with the ADF. The aircraft had passed east of the Outer Marker, turning beyond the normal procedure turn area and descending below surrounding terrain. The aircraft crashed on the northwest side of the rugged and heavily wooded Holston mountain range.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to identify Gray intersection properly and his decision to continue an ILS approach contrary to company and regulatory procedures."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 62-AN/57 (53-58)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Knoxville-McGhee Tyson Airport, TN to Bristol, VA/Johnson City/Kingsport-Tri-Cities Regional, TN as the crow flies is 159 km (100 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Knoxville-McGhee Tyson Airport, TN to Bristol, VA/Johnson City/Kingsport-Tri-Cities Regional, TN as the crow flies is 159 km (100 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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