# NTSB FTW79FA032: Cessna 140A, N777RN, Ferndale, AR, December 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 18, 1978
- Place: Ferndale, AR · FERNDALE, AR
- Location: 34.7790° N, 92.5577° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ferndale, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7790&lon=-92.5577&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4172  78/12/18   FERNDALE,AR         CESSNA 140A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 19, 396
        TIME - 1900                    N777RN              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LITTLE ROCK,AR              BOULDER,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      52
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- SHIPPING SCREW NOT REMOVED FROM ELT PREVENTED ACTIVATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777RN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777RN-1982-03-12), registration cancelled 1982-03-12, S/N 15055 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A
- Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781218044979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781218044979A), Dec 18, 1978: Cessna 14/, Ferndale, AR, Destroyed. Shipping screw not removed from ELT prevented activation.

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.

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