Cessna 177RG accident near Mena, AR
On November 11, 2008, a Cessna 177RG (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mena, AR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 11, 2008
- Place
- Mena, AR
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.669°N, 94.318°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081111X13821
Official records · CEN09LA054
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 11, 2008, about 1400 central standard time(CST), a Cessna 177RG, N2526V, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Mena, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the only occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The airplane had departed the Willow Springs Memorial Airport (1H5) Willow Springs, Missouri, enroute to the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) San Antonio, Texas. A witness, located approximately one mile north of the accident site, heard a plane overhead in the fog going “really slow” when he heard the engine sputter three times and quit, then the sound of limbs breaking and seconds later the sound of a loud explosion. Another witness driving along the highway on the mountain ridge saw the wreckage on the side of the highway fully involved in flames. The witness said the victim was nearly completely outside the aircraft, unbelted, and positioned at 90 degrees from the fuselage, face down, with his feet trapped in the burning fuselage. Because of the flames the witness said he was unable to get close enough to move the victim. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 61, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings in airplane single and multi-engine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane. The pilot was issued a second-class medical certificate on July 15, 2008, with no restrictions o
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's continued flight into deteriorating weather conditions.
More accidents in AR
- Beech 65-A80, May 16, 2005
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Browse: Arkansas · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
