# NTSB CHI07LA113: Murphy Aircraft Mfg SR3500 Moose, N360MM, Cotter, AR, April 22, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2007, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Cotter, AR - Coordinates: 36.308334, -92.525001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3083&lon=-92.5250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65617 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65617/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65617 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining airplane control and airspeed during the approach. Factors were the gusty wind conditions, the inadvertent stall the pilot encountered, and the power lines that were impacted during the uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with power lines and terrain during approach. A post impact fire occurred. A sheriff's report stated that witnesses observed the airplane on a downwind leg. A witness reported that there were "'dust devils' everywhere. The wind was changing direction every few minutes/seconds, with very strong gusts at times." The airplane made a steep right turn and the witnesses reported that the right wing "dropped." The recorded wind was 180 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots. An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed electrical power lines were damaged and the aircraft sustained damage consistent with a post impact fire. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2007, about 1445 central daylight time, N360MM, registered as an experimental amateur-built Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd., SR3500 Moose airplane, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with power lines and terrain during approach to The Valley Airport (61AR), near Cotter, Arkansas. A post impact fire occurred. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated in Clearwater, Florida, and was destined for 61AR. A Baxter County Sheriff's report stated that witnesses observed the airplane on a downwind leg. A witness reported that there were "'dust devils' everywhere. The wind was changing direction every few minutes/seconds, with very strong gusts at times." The airplane made a steep right turn and the witnesses reported that the right wing "dropped." At 1435, the recorded weather at the Marion County Regional Airport, near Flippin, Arkansas, was: Wind 180 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 19 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 26 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 29.95 inches of mercury. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage on-scene. The wreckage came to rest on Denton Ferry Road near County Road 705. Electrical power lines were damaged. The aircraft sustained damage consistent with a post impact fire. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings. He held a third class medical certificate dated July 5, 2005, with limitations for corrective lenses. On the application for that medical certificate, he reported that he had accumulated 3,500 hours of total flight time and 60 hours of flight time in the 6 months prior to the application. N360MM was an experimental amateur-built Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd., SR3500 Moose airplane, serial number 176SR. It was of an all-metal construction and was an externally braced high wing airplane. It was powered by a nine-cylinder Vedeneyev M14P radial engine, serial number RA9112013. The Baxter County Coroner's Office arranged the pilot's autopsy, which was performed on April 24, 2007. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report stated, "QUININE detected in Kidney." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N360MM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N360MM-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 176SR, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd. SR3500 Moose - Registry model: [Murphy Aircraft Mfg SR3500 MOOSE](https://openairdocs.org/model/murphy-aircraft-mfg-sr3500-moose) (registry code 05615ZR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 176SR - Engines: Vedeneyev M14P reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas R. Beechel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Clearwater, FL - Destination: 61AR, Cotter, AR - Airport: 61AR, The Valley Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FLP, 4 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070422005449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070422005449A), Apr 22, 2007: Amtr SR3500MOOSE, Cotter, AR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) On April 22, 2007 approximately 1410 local time aircraft N360MM, a murphy moose SR3500, registered as experimental, amateur built airplane arrived north… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65617. 264 KB in all. - Letters From a Senior AME Regarding Structural Concerns (OUO) (item 1, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40288940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letters%20From%20a%20Senior%20AME%20Regarding%20Structural%20Concerns%20(OUO)-Master.PDF - Baxter County Sheriff's Office Report Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40288941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Baxter%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40288942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.