# Accident 20170105000749A: Textron LC-LC41, Gurdon, AR, January 5, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 5, 2017, 12:39 local time
- Place: Gurdon, AR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9094° N, 93.1402° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9094&lon=-93.1402&mi=10
- Aircraft: N972JK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N972JK-2019-12-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41-550FG (registry code 5150011, https://openairdocs.org/model/columbia-aircraft-mfg-lc41-550fg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-550-C (registry code 17246, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXTRON LC-LC41
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-550-C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170105000749A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 5, 2017, A COLUMBIA, LC41-550FG, N972JK, REGISTERED TO JMK3 LANDS LLC, IN CRUISE ALTITUDE FL175 REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO CLIMB TO FL25 TO TEST SOME EQUIPMENT. AT 12:32CST SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBING TO FL25 THE PILOT REQUESTED TO DESCEND TO FL175 AND STARTED THE DECENT BEFORE RECEIVING ATC CLEARANCE FOR LOWER. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO FL190 AND MAINTAIN FL190.  WHEN QUESTIONED AT 12:33, IF HE WAS OK THE PILOT RESPONDED HE WAS ALL RIGHT BUT, EXPERIENCING EQUIPMENT ISSUES AND REQUESTED TO CANCEL IFR AND DESCEND TO FL175. ATC REQUESTED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN FL190 AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTACT ZME FOR A LOWER ALTITUDE. AT 12:35CST, ATC INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO DESCEND AND MAINTAIN FL170 AND WAS ASKED AGAIN IF HE NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK. AT 12:36CST THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. ATC REQUESTED THE PILOT TO STATE THE EMERGENCY AND REQUEST, THE PILOT?S TRANSMISSION WAS GARBLED AND UNRECOGNIZABLE. ATC TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT THE AIRCRAFT AND REQUESTED OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA TO CONTACT N972JK WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 12:39CST. THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS BURNED AND DESTROYED ON IMPACT. THE TWO OCCUPANT?S PILOT AND COPILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MCKINNEY TX (KTKI) AS VMC, ON JANUARY 5, 2017 APPROXIMATELY 11:45CST ENROUTE TO FRANKLIN, NC (K1A5). THE ROOT CAUSE AT THIS TIME IS UNSPECIFIED EQUIPMENT FAILURE.

## 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 CEN17FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA071), Jan 5, 2017: Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 550FG (N972JK), Gurdon, AR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of control in flight for reasons that could not be determined because of the severe impact and postcrash fire damage to the airplane and the lack of information about the airplane emergency…

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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