CHI03LA175

The aircraft was substantially damaged when the pilot descended on final approach, at night, without the runway environment in sight and impacted an embankment. The pilot became disoriented during the VFR flight. He attempted to contact center and approach control facilitites, however, positive contact was never established. The pilot reported: "I could not see the airport beacon, although I thought I could see the airport hangar and airport environment." He noted that he did not see any runway threshold lights, however, he "felt very strongly that the runway was below" him. He goes on to report: "I set 30 [degrees] of flap and extended the landing gear for landing. The airplane's landing lights were on at this point looking for the runway." The left wing subsequently impacted an embankment and spun the airplane around 180 degrees as it came to rest in a flooded rice field. The accident site was 6 miles from the nearest airport and 75 miles west-southwest of the the intended destination. A post-accident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot stated there were no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident. The pilot reported weather conditions during the flight as clear with unrestricted visibility.

On June 22, 2003, approximately 2330 central daylight time, a Cessna 210M, N9TK, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain 6 miles west of Carlisle Municipal Airport (4M3), Carlisle, Arkansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed the Sheridan Municipal Airport (9M8), Sheridan, Arkansas, about 2030, with an intended destination of West Memphis Municipal Airport (AWM), West Memphis, Arkansas.

The pilot's written statement noted that upon departure from 9M8, he observed the city of Pine Bluff, Stuttgart Airport (SGT) and the city of Brinkley as he flew past them. He reported following the interstate highway toward Forrest City and recalled seeing the lights of Memphis in the distance.

The pilot reported contacting Memphis center and requested radar vectors to AWM. Communications were "very garbled" and positive contact was never established, according to the pilot. He noted that he attempted to contact Memphis approach, however, he did not receive any response to his radio calls.

The pilot stated that he continued to follow the interstate until he had Airport Road insight "which leads to the West Memphis Airport." He stated, "I could not see the airport beacon, although I thought I could see the airport hangar and airport environment."

The pilot reported that he did not see any runway threshold lights. He stated: "I felt very strongly that the runway was below me. I set 30 [degrees] of flap and extended the landing gear for landing. The airplane's landing lights were on at this point looking for the runway." The left wing subsequently impacted an embankment and spun the airplane around 180 degrees as it came to rest in a flooded rice field, according to the pilot.

The accident site was 6 miles from 4M3, the nearest airport, and 75 miles west-southwest of AWM, the intended destination.

A post-accident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies. In addition, the pilot stated there were no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.

The pilot reported weather conditions during the flight as clear with unrestricted visibility. Weather at the Stuttgart Airport (SGT), located 15 miles southeast of the accident site, at 2335, was reported as clear with 6 miles visibility. Weather reported at AWM, the intended destination, at 2353, was clear with 10 miles visibility.