FTW85FA181

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 320B · Athens, LA · April 14, 1985

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
April 13, 1985, 19:40 local (Apr 14, 1985, 01:40 UTC)
Place
Athens, LA
Injuries
4 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3RUCessna 320B
Weather
Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850413014439A
Case key
21540

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.

Loss of control - in flightDescent - normal
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Light condition - dark nightFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The acft was on an instrument flt plan. The plt had received a pre takeoff weather briefing. He was briefed on the area of weather that was at the acft's twelve o'clock position four miles in front. The area was thirty miles southwest and twenty miles wide. The pilot stated he had a slightly hot engine rides or one was a little rough. The aircraft was cleared to shreveport, given vectors ans descended. All radio and radar contact was lost at about 4000 feet. No malfunctions were noted on either engine. No known malfunction found with acft. Tail light bulb filament showed no direct current being applied at impact. Possibility of inflight loss of DC power causing pilot to lose control of aircraft during dark night and turbulent instrument flight. Aircraft allowed to impact surface in near past vertical nose down attitude. Possible inadvertent activation of crash bar loss of all electrical. Possible passenger motion sickness

Aircraft

Registration
N3RU
Reported as
Cessna 320B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
320B0023
Engine
Continental TSIO-470-C, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Eidoarie, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 26, 1984 · 0 hours before
Departed
F43 · El Dorado, AR
Destination
IAH · Houston, TX
Flight plan
IFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Unknown
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Night/dark
Visibility
12 statute miles
Observed at
SHV, 44 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.