- Date
- October 8, 2010, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Humphrey, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8323TCessna 175C
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20101008046999A
- Case key
- 77537
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger planned to disperse cremated remains from the airplane during the flight. As the pilot made a low pass over the graveyard, he heard a loud "bang" and the windshield broke. The pilot was able to remain airborne and returned to the airport for a normal landing. Examination of the airplane and accident site revealed that the airplane struck a static wire, impacting the airplane’s windshield and instrument panel. The wire continued to cut into the left and right sides of the airplane, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot reported no preimpact anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot and passenger planned to disperse cremated remains from an airplane. As the pilot made a low pass over the graveyard, the pilot heard a “load bang and the windshield” broke. The pilot was able to remain airborne and returned to the airport for a normal landing. Examination of the airplane and accident site revealed that a static wire impacted the airplane’s windshield and instrument panel. The wire continued to cut into the left and right sides of the airplane, causing structural damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot reported no pre-impact anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8323T
- Reported as
- Cessna 175C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17557023
- Airframe hours
- 2,495
- Engine
- Cont Motor GO-300 SERIES, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 20, 2010
- Departed
- KSGT · Stuttgart, AR
- Destination
- KSGT · Stuttgart, AR
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 26, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 644 total · 187 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 2 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.