- Date
- January 2, 1982, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hearne, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N758SKCessna R172K
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 2, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820102000369A
- Case key
- 70998
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Before the aircraft took off, fog was noted at the airport. Witnesses reported that the ceiling was about 100 to 200 ft and the visibility was about 1/2 mile. Reportedly, the pilot tried to contact the fss by telephone; however, only a pay telephone was available at the airport. The pay phone was out of order and could only be used for incoming calls. Also, the pilot was unable to contact the fss by radio while on the ground. He then stated his intention to takeoff and check the weather while airborne. Witnesses observed the aircraft takeoff and then disappear at about 200 ft AGL. Other witnesses stated that they heard a low flying aircraft and a probable flight path was established around the airport. Two witnesses stated that they stopped hearing the engine before they heard the impact. The plane crashed near the approach end of the runway. The investigation included an engine teardown, but no preimpact failure was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N758SK
- Reported as
- Cessna R172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R1723322
- Engine
- Continental IO-360, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David & Lila Keller
- Registered owner
- David & Lila Keller
- Departed
- T72 · Hearne, TX
- Destination
- T72 · Hearne, TX
- Airport
- T72 · Hearne Municipal, runway 17, 7,500 × 0 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 345 total · 167 in this make and model · 273 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Observed at
- W2X
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.