# NTSB FTW04LA065: Cessna 120, N1961V, Lonoke, AR, January 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 2004, 18:55 local (Jan 26, 2004, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Lonoke, AR - Coordinates: 34.813888, -92 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8139&lon=-92.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA065 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the dusk lighting conditions and unlit airfield. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not installed (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis The 380-hour pilot reported that during cruise flight he heard "the engine make two loud knocking sounds and it started to vibrate and loose power." The pilot initiated a forced landing to an unlit airfield east of his position. During the landing roll, he realized he "wouldn't be able to stop the airplane before running into trees located at the end of the runway." The pilot turned the airplane left, exiting the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During an on-scene examination of the airplane, the engine was started and it ran for approximately 15 seconds before it was turned off with the magneto switch. When the propeller was manually rotated by hand, valve train continuity was established throughout, and all four cylinders produced compression. No mechanical deficiencies were noted, and the reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 2003, at 1855 central standard time, a Cessna 120 tailwheel equipped single-engine airplane, N1961V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at the Country Air Estates Airport, near Lonoke, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Twilight visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed from the Stuttgart Municipal Airport, near Stuttgart, Arkansas, at 1835 and was destined for the North Little Rock Municipal Airport, near Little Rock, Arkansas. The 380-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while in cruise flight at 1,300 feet msl, he heard "the engine make two loud knocking sounds as it started to vibrate and lose power." He initiated a forced landing to an unlit airfield located approximately 1/4 mile east of his current position. During the descent, he "performed an emergency checklist and was unable to remedy the problem." The pilot stated he was directly over the east/west runway and elected to land on runway 36 (a 2,500 foot long, 100 foot wide grass runway). During the landing roll, he realized he "wouldn't be able to stop the airplane before running into trees located at the end of the runway." The pilot intentionally turned the airplane left, exiting the runway. Subsequently, the main landing gear impacted a ditch that ran parallel to the runway. The airplane nosed-over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the left forward wing spar was bent, the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage, and the fuselage, aft of the main landing gear, was wrinkled. On February 24, 2003, at the facilities of 92nd West Aviation Inc., of Lonoke, Arkansas, the engine was inspected under supervision of the FAA inspector. The Continental C-85-12F engine was started and ran for approximately 15 seconds before it was turned off with the magneto switch. When the propeller was manually rotated by hand, valve train continuity was established throughout, and all four cylinders produced compression. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on September 1, 2003, with an airframe total time of 3,348.4 hours and engine total time of 4,605.1 hours. At the time of the accident, the engine and airframe had accumulated a total of 530.5 hours since the last inspection. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1961V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1961V-2012-08-20), registration cancelled 2012-08-20, S/N 14172, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14172 - Airframe hours: 3348.4 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2003, 530.5 hours before - Departed: SGT, STUTTGART, AR - Destination: 1M1, NORTH LITTLE RO, AR - Airport: 1AR9, Country Air Estates, runway 36, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 2, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 232 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.51 inHg ## 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 20040125015359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040125015359A), Jan 25, 2004: Cessna 120, Lonoke, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 25, 2004, at 1814 central standard time, a Cessna 120 tail wheel equipped single-engine airplane, N1961V, was substantially damaged during a… 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.