Cessna 150F accident near Wilder, Tennessee

1 fatality • Wilder, TN, United States

A student pilot was killed when their aircraft struck a tree during a night flight near Wilder, Tennessee.

What happened

On October 31, 2024, at approximately 18:37 CDT, a Cessna 150F, registration N8110S, was destroyed in an accident near Wilder, Tennessee. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.

ADS-B track data indicates the aircraft departed from runway 26 at Cross Memorial Airport – Whitson Field (CSV) in Crossville, Tennessee, at approximately 18:17. At the time of the accident, the sun had already set, and civil twilight had ended. The aircraft initially flew northeast, then north, and then northwest. Approximately one minute before the impact, the aircraft turned west. Data transmission ended at an altitude of roughly 200 feet above the ground, about 0.3 miles east of the accident location. The pilot did not contact air traffic control, and no distress calls were reported.

The aircraft struck a 100-foot-tall hardwood tree, creating a wreckage path oriented on a magnetic heading of 146°. The outboard portion of the left wing remained in the tree, while the empennage, aft fuselage, and main landing gear separated from the aircraft. The remaining wreckage, including the engine, propeller, cockpit, and right wing, came to rest inverted at the base of another tree and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The debris field measured approximately 250 feet in length.

At the time of the accident, the site was located on the eastern edge of an eastward-moving precipitation band, and a Convective SIGMET was active for the area. There was no evidence the pilot had received a weather briefing.

Injuries

The accident resulted in 1 fatality involving the student pilot.

Probable cause

Not determined

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Oct 2024 CESSNA 150F accident near Wilder, TN?

A student pilot was killed when their aircraft struck a tree during a night flight near Wilder, Tennessee.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Oct 2024 CESSNA 150F accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Oct 2024 involved a CESSNA 150F, registration N8110S, at Wilder, TN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Not determined

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