# NTSB FTW01FA095: Cessna 190, N1055D, Lurton, AR, April 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2001, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Lurton, AR - Coordinates: 35.752498, -93.103614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7525&lon=-93.1036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 52056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01FA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52056/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01FA095 ## Probable cause the pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the ensuing loss of aircraft control while in cruise flight. Contributory factors were the haze and fog weather conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - use of inappropriate medication/drug, pilot in command - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - wing - separation - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot was flying at 7,500 feet on a cross-country flight when he reported to air traffic control (ATC) that he wanted to descend due to "haze." The flight descended to 5,200 feet and the pilot requested another descent; however, ATC informed the pilot that they would not have radar contact with the airplane below 5,500 feet. The pilot elected to stay at 5,500 feet and repeated that it was hazy. The final radar data depicted the airplane descending and making a right corkscrew ground track. A witness, who was located in the vicinity of the accident site, heard the sound of a "motor speed up," and heard an aircraft clear a ridge and impact the ground. After the impact, he saw the "flash of a fire ball." The witness added that it was "too foggy" to see the airplane. According to local residents, the weather was foggy and misty at the time of the accident. The airplane's outboard wing sections separated in overload and came to rest in trees on the north side of a ridge. The fuselage impacted trees and terrain on the south side of the ridge approximately 0.2 miles from the outboard wing sections. Its measured descent angle was 50 degrees. All of the control cable and structural separations were consistent with an overload failure. It is unknown how much, if any, instrument or simulated instrument flight time the pilot had accumulated. Metabolites of cocaine were found in the pilot's muscle tissue; however, it could not be determined when the pilot may have used cocaine. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 7, 2001, approximately 1250 central daylight time, a Cessna 190 single-engine, tail wheel-equipped airplane, N1055D, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Lurton, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Cook Airfield, Derby, Kansas, approximately 1100, and was destined for Lakeland, Florida. The VFR flight plan listed Tupelo, Mississippi, as an intermediate fuel stop. Review of the flight's radar data and communications with air traffic control (ATC) revealed that the airplane was flying at 7,500 feet, and at 1223:34, the pilot requested a lower altitude due to haze. The flight then descended to 5,200 feet. The pilot requested another descent at 1238:30, stating that "I'm starting to get above the clouds, I'd like to go down to 3,500." The controller informed the pilot that they would not have radar contact with the airplane below 5,500 feet. The pilot stated "okay, I'll stay up here on top then...it's just kind of hazy. I'll stay right here, 5,500." From 1245:48 until the last radar return at 1246:49, the radar data depicted the airplane in a right corkscrewing ground track. The last altitude return was at 1246:24, depicting the airplane at 5,100 feet. According to a witness, who was located in the vicinity of the accident site, he heard the sound of a "motor speed up," and heard the aircraft clear a ridge and impact the ground. After the impact, he saw the "flash of a fire ball." The witness added that it was "too foggy" to see the airplane. According to local residents, the weather was foggy and misty at the time of the accident. ATC reported the loss of radar contact to the Arkansas Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The Arkansas CAP initiated a search for the missing airplane on the afternoon of the 7th and located the aircraft on April 9, 2001. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating on October 30, 1999. The pilot was issued a third class medical certificate on April 27, 2000, without any limitations. According to the medical application, the pilot had accumulated 369 hours at the time of the examination. The pilot's logbook was not located and it was estimated by his family that he had accumulated a total of 475 hours of flight time, of which 150 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. It is unknown how much instrument or simulated instrument flight training the pilot had accumulated. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1951-model airplane was manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, and was powered by a Jacobs radial engine. The aircraft maintenance records were not located. The mechanic, who performed the last annual inspection on the airplane (April 1, 2001) provided the following information concerning the aircraft: Aircraft Total Time: 2,744.0 Hours Engine Time Since Major Overhaul: 98.1 Hours Propeller Time Since Major Overhaul: 1,004.6 Hours METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 0653, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from the Wichita Flight Service Station (FSS). The weather briefer informed the pilot that through central Arkansas the clouds were 3,000 feet scattered and that Harrison, Arkansas (located approximately 27 miles north of the accident site), was reporting overcast clouds at 3,700 feet and unrestricted visibilities. The weather briefer also informed the pilot about turbulence along the pilot's route of flight and read a pilot report, which indicated that 70 miles northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas, an airplane had experienced a "smooth ride" above the tops of the clouds, which were reported at 7,000 feet. The forecasted weather across northern Arkansas until 1200, called for broken clouds at 3,000 feet with tops to 10,000 feet. After 1200, the forecast for that area called for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet and "strong wind" with "gusts up to 30 knots." The winds aloft over Little Rock, at 6,000 feet, were reported from 240 degrees at 45 knots. At 1253, the Boone County Airport (Harrison, Arkansas) reported the wind from 250 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 23 knots, visibility 8 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 27 degrees Celsius, dew point 13 degrees Celsius, altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury. At 1253, the Russellville Regional Airport, (located approximately 30 miles south of the accident site) reported the wind from 240 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast clouds at 3,100 feet agl, temperature 24 degrees Celsius, dew point 18 degrees Celsius, altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury. A pilot report, issued at 1219, between Russellville and Fort Smith, Arkansas, indicated that at 1,500 feet there was continuous light turbulence and occasional moderate turbulence. In addition, the pilot report indicated that the visibility in the Russellville area was 4 to 5 miles. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was distributed along both sides of a heavily wooded ridge line. A 5-foot section of the right outboard wing and a 7-foot section of the left outboard wing came to rest on new growth trees on the north side of the ridge approximately 0.2 miles from the main wreckage. The outboard wing fracture surfaces were consistent with overload failure. The fuselage, along with the inboard sections of both wings, impacted trees and terrain on the south side of the ridge on a magnetic heading of 130 degrees, creating an initial impact crater approximately 6 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 2 feet deep. Approximately 75 feet northwest of the main impact crater were freshly cut trees. Adjacent to the trees was a 2-foot wing section that displayed a circular impact mark, equal in size to the tree, in its leading edge. The tops of the cut and broken trees came to rest in the impact crater. An inclinometer was used to determine the angle made with the cut trees and the impact crater. The descent angle was determined to be 50 degrees. On the left side of the crater was a 5-foot section of wing, which was accordion crushed aft. Inside the impact crater were pieces of engine valve springs and the propeller governor. The propeller and engine came to rest approximately 12 feet from the impact crater. The propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft; however, all of the cylinders were found separated from the engine. One piston and connecting rod remained attached to the engine crankshaft. The engine data plate was not located during the investigation. The fuselage came to rest approximately 40 feet from the impact crater. The empennage remained intact with the exception of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. The empennage came to rest on its right side and was found twisted and fire damaged. The vertical stabilizer was found laying adjacent to the horizontal stabilizer and displayed a circular indentation on its left side. The cockpit was destroyed by impact forces and fire damage. Flight control continuity could not be confirmed due to the extent of the damage; however, the flight control separations were consistent with overload failures. The attitude indicator was located in the wreckage and it displayed a nose low, left wing low attitude. The heading indicator was destroyed and its gyro rotor was found among the wreckage. The rotor displayed impact damage around its circumference. The wet type vacuum pump was found separated from the engine accessory case and was disassembled by the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The vanes were found intact and appeared to display an even wear. The internal components of the wet vacuum pump were c ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1055D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1055D-2016-08-31), registration cancelled 2016-08-31, S/N 7667, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 190 - Registry model: [Cessna 190](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-190) (registry code 2072902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7667 - Airframe hours: 2744 - Engines: Jacobs 275 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael H. Huckins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2001 - Departed: K50, Derby, KS - Destination: TUP, Tupelo, MS - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 475 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1 statute miles ## 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 20010407007159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010407007159A), Apr 7, 2001: Cessna 190, Lurton, AR, No damage. (-23)On arpil 7, 2001, approximately 1340CDT, a Cessna 190 single-engine, tail wheel-equiped airplane, N1055D, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near… 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.