# Accident 19971231039869A: Cessna R172K, Lakeview, AR, December 31, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 1997, 16:45 local time
- Place: Lakeview, AR
- Airport: Gastons Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3699° N, 92.5292° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3699&lon=-92.5292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N736VQ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736VQ-2013-06-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R172K (registry code 2072431, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Reported engine: CONT IO360K
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 425 total, 378 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971231039869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT STRUCK TREE TOP AND CRASHED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, GASTON, AR.     (-23) AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT AT THE MIDFIELD, CROSSED THE RUNWAY AND ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR A LEFT BASE. UPON TURNING FINAL TO RUNWAY 24, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SUN BLINDING. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE A/C CONTACTED TREES APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE APPROACH END OF AND APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. A/C IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, 45 DEGREE ANGLE, WEATHER, VFR, NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  YHE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER RETURNING TO THE 3,200 FT. TURF AIRSTRIP TO LAND, HE DESCENDED TO 1,400 FEET MSL AND ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 24. HE ADDED THAT AFTER CONFIGURING THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING, HE TURNED FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT 'IN THE COURSE OF THE FINAL APPROACH, THE SUN SUDDENLY BLINDED ME AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORWARD VISION'. HE CONCLUDED WITH THE STATEMENT, 'I APPARENTLY DRIFTED TO TO THE RIGHT OF COURSE AND STRUCK A TREE...' THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES LOCATED NORTH OF THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE NON-RATED PASSENGER, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, ALSO STATED THAT 'ON LANDED WE WERE BLINDED BY THE SUN'. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SUN VISORS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA083), Dec 31, 1997: Cessna R172K (N736VQ), Lakeview, AR, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the approach, and his delayed decision to execute a go-around. A related factor was the sunglare interfering with the pilot's view.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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