# Accident 20211226021409A: Cessna 172E, Hardy, AR, December 26, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 26, 2021, 17:25 local time
- Place: Hardy, AR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3461° N, 91.5423° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3461&lon=-91.5423&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5798T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5798T-2022-09-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172E (registry code 2072412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 384 total, 366 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA082) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211226021409A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 26, 2021 AT 17:25 CST, A CESSNA 172E; SERIAL # 17251698, REGISTERED AS N5798T WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT CRASHED IN HARDY, ARKANSAS. THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED.

ACCORDING TO NEXT OF KIN INTERVIEW, PIC DEPARTED GEN-AIRPARK (3G8) IN GENESEO, ILLINOIS AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 LOCAL TIME AND PIC INTENDED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT AT WALNUT RIDGE REGIONAL AIRPORT (ARG), IN WALNUT RIDGE, ARKANSAS.

ACCORDING TO THE ATC RECORD, THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT WALNUT RIDGE BUT COULD NOT LAND DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. PIC REQUESTED VECTORS TO AN AIRPORT WITH VFR CONDITIONS AND ATC VECTORED PILOT WEST TOWARD MOUNTAIN HOME. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE PIC REPORTED LOW FUEL AND BEFORE LOSING RADIO CONTACT, THE PIC SAID HE WOULD DESCEND TO 300? AGL AND USE FOREFLIGHT TO LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY AT SHARP COUNTY. THE LAST TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIC SAID THEY RAN OUT OF FUEL.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 5.5 MILES NORTH OF SHARP COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT. THE FAA AND NTSB RESPONDED ON SCENE ON DECEMBER 28.

AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO IMPACT THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM AND CREATED A LARGE IMPACT CRATER. AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE ACCORDIONED INTO THE GROUND WITH THE ENGINE EMBEDDED APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET UNDERGROUND. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE AND NO SMELL OF FUEL. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCENE AND POSITIONED FOR INVESTIGATION.

ON DECEMBER 29, THE FAA, NTSB, AND TEXTRON TECH REP INSPECTED THE ENGINE, INSTRUMENTS, AND AIRFRAME. AIRFRAME DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH HIGH ENERGY IMPACT AND REMAINING STRUCTURE DID NOT REVEAL POTENTIAL CAUSAL FACTOR. AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED AND ACCESSORIES BROKE OFF FROM IMPACT. HOWEVER, ALL INSPECTABLE ITEMS DID NOT REVEAL POTENTIAL CAUSAL FACTOR. PROPELLER WAS FOUND BROKEN IN TWO PIECES WITH THE BRAKE OCCURRING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPELLER HUB. PROPELLER BLADES DID NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE POWERED WHEN COLLISION OCCURRED.

## 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 CEN22FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA082), Dec 26, 2021: Cessna 172 (N5798T), Hardy, AR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.…

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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