- Date
- October 16, 1983, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Redfield, AR
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N321HRCessna 172M
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831016074639A
- Case key
- 21072
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
At aprx 1331 CDT, the plt entered the pine bluff fss station & requested a briefing for a VFR flt to springfield, MO. He was advised that VFR flt was not recommended. The plt returned again between 1335 & 1350 & was seen examining the wx charts. At aprx 1420, he took off without filing a flt plan & remained below the clouds during departure. A short time later, the acft was seen flying up the Arkansas river at low altitude where power lines crossed the river. The plt pulled up to clear the power lines. Reportedly, he pulled up, stalled, then recovered & turned away from the river. Moments later, it returned heading down river back toward the power lines. Reportedly, it stalled again, impacted the water & sank. All 3 occupants drowned. There was evidence that the front seat occupants were not using their seat belts & shoulder harnesses & both had received temporal & facial lacerations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N321HR
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17264440
- Airframe hours
- 1,714
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Circle H Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 28, 1983 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- PBF · Pine Bluff, AR
- Destination
- Springfield, MO
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Observed at
- PBF, 21 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.