2021 Cirrus SR22 Accident Near McGhee Tyson Airport (N162AM)

Accident Overview and Casualties On December 16, 2021, at approximately 1007 central standard time, a Cirrus SR22, N162AM, was destroyed in an accident near McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee. The aircraft was operating as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, while a pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured. First responders found the passenger approximately 30 feet from the aircraft, alert and responsive, with third-degree burns. The passenger reported that the pair had encountered wake turbulence on short final, causing the aircraft to lose lift, roll inverted, and activate its ballistic parachute before impacting the ground and bursting into a fireball.