Investigator In Charge (IIC): Sorensen, Timothy
The National Transportation Safety Board travelled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Aaron deVogel; Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Nashville, Tennessee
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Mountain Flyers Inc
Location: Cleveland, Tennessee
Accident Number: CEN22FA406
Date and Time: September 5, 2022, 17:11 Local
Registration: N58807
Aircraft: Cessna 182P
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 5, 2022, at 1711 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P airplane, N58807, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cleveland, Tennessee. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the flight departed Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), Arlington, Texas, at 1012 central daylight time (cdt) and arrived at Fletcher Field Airport (CKM), Clarksdale, Mississippi, at 1300 cdt. The accident flight departed CKM at 1348 cdt with an intended destination of Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville, North Carolina. The pilot proceeded eastbound on course toward AVL and climbed to 9,000 ft mean sea level (msl).
At 1706, the airplane entered a left turn as the flight approached an area of weather. The pilot completed two full 360-degree turns momentarily returning to a northeasterly course. About 1711:10, the airplane entered a right turn from an approximate altitude of 9,075 ft msl. The final data point was recorded at 1711:32 with a corresponding altitude of 7,200 ft msl.
The initial tree impact was located about 0.56 miles northwest of the final data point. Elevation of the accident site was approximately 830 ft, and estimated tree heights were 80 ft above ground level (agl). The debris path was about 480 ft long and oriented on a north-northeast (020°) bearing. The airframe was fragmented. The engine and propeller assemblies were separated and located within the debris path. Both exhibited damage consistent with impact forces.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N58807
Model/Series: 182P
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code: N/A
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MMI,874 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C /23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1800 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 0 knots / 0 knots, 0°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2800 ft AGL
Visibility: 9 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Clarksdale, MS (CKM)
Destination: Asheville, NC (AVL)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 35.12614,-84.72678
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances and struck trees.
Date: 05-SEP-22
Time: 21:15:00Z
Regis#: N58807
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 182
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 2
Flight Crew: 1 Fatal
Pax: 1 Fatal
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
City: CLEVELAND
State: TENNESSEE
Dr. Beth Ann Gist and Dr. William E. "Bill" Gist ~
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — A local doctor and his wife have been identified as the victims in a plane that crashed Monday in eastern Tennessee.
On Tuesday, the Bradley County (Tennessee) medical examiner confirmed William Edward Gist was the pilot and his wife Beth Ann Gist was a passenger in the Cessna 182P Skylane that went down near Chattanooga about 5:15 p.m. Monday.
Mountain Flyers Flying Club, a not-for-profit organization based at Asheville Regional Airport, owns the plane. The organization's president Bill Keith said the physician ran into bad weather.
“This is a big shock,” Buys said. “Dr. Gist was one of the most well-loved people I have ever worked with. He was someone who was dedicated and compassionate, sharing every bit of themselves with our community.”
Gist, she said, had worked at MAHEC since 2019.
"Beth Gist served as the Clinical Director for Mountain Area Pregnancy Services in Asheville, North Carolina. She was a light to our organization and well-loved by our team. Beth's skillset and giftings were exemplary, and such a gift to our organization. Her strong Christian faith allowed her to love our clients deeply, and to encourage clients, staff, and volunteers. She provided medical oversight for 3 clinics. MAHEC has been a long-term medical partner of ours, as we often refer medical clients for OB care. We grieve their loss, alongside their family and the MAHEC family," said Kristi Brown, Executive Director of Mountain Area Pregnancy Services.
Keith said Gist, a well-trained pilot, was the first club member to die in a crash.
“We knew he loved to fly,” Buys said. “He was just so excited to be able to see his family (in Dallas), to use a skill he used and trained many hours for. He absolutely adored being in the air.”
Buys said the couple has grown children as well as two large dogs they adored.
“They were part of our community. They were very embedded in their church and sang with their choir.” Buys said. “He is from Chicago and grew up in Chicago.”
Buys said the couple loved living in the Asheville area.
“They brought love and sunshine everywhere they went,” Buys said.
Jacquelyn Hallum, who works at MAHEC, said Gist had a great sense of humor. Hallum said Gist was a huge contributor to the community, working to bring more diversity in the medical field as well as being a sincere and caring person.
“He was very much a people person,” Hallum said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. Air flight recordings and communications with an air controller will be part of that investigation.
Dr. Beth Ann Gist and her husband Dr. William "Bill" Edward Gist
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