# NTSB MKC85FPG01: Piper PA-28-151, N203AT, Pine Bluff, AR, December 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1984, 19:06 local (Dec 21, 1984, 01:06 UTC)
- Place: Pine Bluff, AR
- Location: 34.2284° N, 92.0032° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pine Bluff, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2284&lon=-92.0032&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FPG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FPG01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PLT BECAME DISORIENTED NEAR PINE BLUFF, AR. HE FLEW FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE CONTACTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE BEING VECTURED TO THE PINE BLUFF AIRPORT BY ATC, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND CRASHED. WX AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS MARGINAL VFR WITH 3700 FT OVERCAST, 3 MILES VISIBILITY AND FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N203AT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7715040
- Airframe hours: 4450
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David Terry Hughes
- Registered owner: Air Trak, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 1984, 83 hours before
- Departed: 79J, ANDALUSIA, AL
- Destination: M99, BENTON, AR
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 172 total, 12 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBF, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841220068179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841220068179A), Dec 20, 1984: Piper PA28151, Pine Bluff, AR, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel while proceeding VFR in low ceilings and fog at night. Following ATC vectors at time of the crash.

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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