Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance while on final approach.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the Piper PA-28-235, was on final approach to land on a 1,640-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, turf runway, at a private airport. The pilot stated that he encountered a downdraft, which caused the airplane to settle into a cornfield, 30 feet prior to the runway threshold. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 260 degrees, at 1 knot, with no gusts. He further reported 370 hours of total flight experience, which included 32 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08CA278 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 9, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Dresden, Tennessee
- Nearest airport
- Latham (NONE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-28-235
- N-number
- N9365W
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.