Zenith CH 801, N801TP: Accident occurred October 12, 2020 near Collegedale Municipal Airport (KFGU), Apison, Hamilton County, Tennessee

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Nashville, Tennessee

Gospel Ministries International Inc

https://registry.faa.gov/N801TP 

Location: Apison, TN 

Accident Number: ERA21LA018

Date & Time: October 12, 2020, 17:18 Local 

Registration: N801TP

Aircraft: Zenith STOL CH801 

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Zenith

Registration: N801TP

Model/Series: STOL CH801 NO SERIES 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Condition of Light:

Observation Facility, Elevation:

Observation Time:

Distance from Accident Site: 

Temperature/Dew Point:

Lowest Cloud Condition: 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling:

Visibility:

Altimeter Setting:

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: Apison, TN 

Destination: Apison, TN

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None 

Latitude, Longitude:35.03449,-85.027535 

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tennessee — Firefighters and rescue teams responded to the scene of a plane crash that happened near Collegedale airport Monday afternoon.

Hamilton County Emergency Management spokeswoman Amy Maxwell says the pilot, a 59-year-old man, told them his engine had stopped working just after he had taken off from the airport.

The plane crashed in a field near the airport, coming to a rest in the woodline.

Maxwell says the man was able to get out uninjured. He was the only person onboard.

NewsChannel 9's Brian Smith spoke with the pilot, who told us he's been flying for more than 40 years, and that this was his first crash in all of that time.

He says he was test flying the 20-year-old plane when the engine quit, and the plane fell 1,000 feet.

The pilot did not want to go on camera, but did say, "Give credit to God, I pray before every flight."

Tri-Community volunteer firefighters, Collegedale Police, and others responded to the crash. The FAA and NTSB have been called to investigate.

https://newschannel9.com