# NTSB MKC89LA127: Cessna 172, N63535, Pine Bluff, AR, June 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1989, 23:15 local (Jun 7, 1989, 04:15 UTC)
- Place: Pine Bluff, AR
- Location: 34.1745° N, 91.9356° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PINEBLUFF RGNL/GRIDER FLD (PBF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1745&lon=-91.9356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA127

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT BY CONTINUING THE APPROACH WHEN THE RUNWAY LIGHTS DID NOT ACTIVATE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: DARK NIGHT AND SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,rotating beacon - not operating
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THAT DURING AN ILS RWY 17 ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS RADIO. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THE ROTATING BEACON WAS NOT OPERATING. HE STATED THAT HIS INSTRUMENTS SHOWED THE ACFT WAS ON THE CENTERLINE OF THE LOCALIZER, SO HE CONTINUED THE ILS APCH. HOWEVER, THE LANDING OCCURRED ABOUT 50 TO 75 FT LEFT OF THE RUNWAY ON SOFT TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER. THE ARPT WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS. ABOUT 1 HR AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ARPT MANAGER CHECKED THE RADIO ACTIVATED RUNWAY LIGHTS AND FOUND THEM TO WORK PROPERLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63535](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63535-1990-12-07), registration cancelled 1990-12-07, S/N 17275448 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275448
- Airframe hours: 2628
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kummer, Richard
- Registered owner: Kummer, Richard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Destination: PBF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PBF, Grider Field, runway 17, 5,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 161 total, 39 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBF, 1 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 19890606014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890606014489A), Jun 6, 1989: Cessna 172P, Pine Bluff, AR, Substantial damage. Unable to activate runway lights for night landing. Made ILS to find runway but landed along side and nosed over.

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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