Accident Details
On June 23, 2016, at 0830 eastern daylight time, an American Aviation AA-1A, registration N9341L, was substantially damaged when it impacted a parked vehicle and a hangar during landing at Sky Ranch Airport (TN98), Knoxville, Tennessee. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed TN98 about 0730. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane landed on the left side of the centerline on runway 19, a 2,100-foot-long, 150-foot-wide turf runway. A set of tire impressions in the turf extended from the left side of the runway in a relatively straight line, across a paved taxiway to the struck vehicle, and then continued to the airplane's final resting location at a hangar, with no indication of braking. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
Damage
The airplane came to rest with the nose section embedded in the north wall of a hangar that was located about 800 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 220 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The engine cowling and wing leading edges were crushed aft. The windscreen was fragmented and completely separated from the fuselage. The firewall was displaced and the instrument panel was buckled between the left control yoke and the panel center. The skin under the wings and along the empennage was wrinkled.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported that he had been flying locally for about 1 hour and recalled slowing the airplane to about 65 miles per hour for landing. The pilot stated that after touchdown, he "lost control of the airplane." The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported a total flight experience of 585 hours; of which, 16 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. All 16 hours were flown within the 90-day period preceding the accident.
Weather
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee, was located about 4 miles south of the accident site. The recorded wind at TYS, at 0853, was from 220° at 15 knots.