- Date
- July 1, 1989, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place
- Pettigrew, AR
- Injuries
- 6 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5304UCessna U206
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890701021869A
- Case key
- 34691
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper planning/decision by the pilot, his VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Factors related the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, high terrain, the pilot's over confidence in his personal ability, and his lack of instrument experience.
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 takeoff, the non-instrument rated plt made svrl inquires about the wx along his route fm Arkansas to south dakota. He was advised that VFR flt was not recommended. Finally, he rprtd the wx at the departure point was VFR & he indcd he would circumnavigate the en route wx. Subsequently, the acft crashed about 25 mi nw of the departure arpt. The acdnt site was in the vcnty of a box canyon in mountainous terrain at an elev of 2100 ft. impact occurred in a steep dscnt. On 7/11/89, the acft was found. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. Abt 40 mi west at ft smith (elev 469'), the 0621 CDT wx was in part: 700' scattered, 4000 overcast. Convective sigmets 23C & 25C warned of thunderstorm activity along the proposed route.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5304U
- Reported as
- Cessna U206
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20605185
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald D. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 30, 1988 · 78 hours before
- Departed
- Clarksville, AR
- Destination
- HSR · Hotsprings, SD
- Flight plan
- VFR
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--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 39 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FSM, 40 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.