# Accident 20030724021409A: Amtr RALLY3, Searcy, AR, July 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2003, 09:30 local time
- Place: Searcy, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2393° N, 91.7310° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2393&lon=-91.7310&mi=10
- Aircraft: N317RE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N317RE-2006-04-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Murch John ROTEC RALLY 3 (registry code 05675JY, https://openairdocs.org/model/murch-john-rotec-rally-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RALLY3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 75 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030724021409A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 24, 2003, AT 09:30 CDT, A ROTEC RALLY 3, N317RE, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING FOR LANDING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR THE SEARCY (SRC) MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SEARCY, ARKANSAS. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE SPIRAL INTO A VACANT LOT WHERE A DRAINAGE DITCH WAS LOCATED, AND DURING THE ROLL-OUT THE AIRCRAFT RAN INTO THE DITCH AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE SOLE OCCUPANT, A PRIVATE PILOT, DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PLEASURE FLIGHT BY THE OWNER/PRIVATE PILOT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE SEARCY AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 09:20 CDT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD TO USE STEEP NOSE-DOWN PITCH ATTITUDE SIMILAR TO SPIN RECOVERY TO STOP THE SPIRAL, THEN WAS ABLE TO LAND IN THE VACANT LOT. "OTHER" CHECKED IN BLOCK #32: SENT BROKEN PORTION OF RUDDER CABLE TO CHICAGO NTSB OFFICE FOR EVALUATION.

## 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 CHI03LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA230), Jul 24, 2003: Murch Rotec Rally 3 (N317RE), Searcy, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The frayed rudder cable that failed during the turn to final. A factor was the ditch the airplane encountered during the forced landing.

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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