Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 177RG near Mena, AR — 2008-11-11

Final reportCEN09LA054
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Date
2008-11-11
Location
Mena, AR, USA
Airport
MEZ
Aircraft
CESSNA 177RG
Registration
N2526V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Descent

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.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's continued flight into deteriorating weather conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was en-route to a business engagement and was flying in an area of deteriorating weather conditions. The airplane impacted a mountain ridge in instrument meteorological conditions and was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. A witness, located approximately one mile north of the accident site, heard the sounds of impact and described “very foggy” conditions with a visibility of 50 feet. Another witness driving along the highway on the mountain ridge was in “dense fog” with visibility of 1/4 mile. The witness saw the wreckage on the side of the highway with the airplane fully involved in fire. The witness said the pilot was unbelted and almost completely outside the airplane. Because of the flames the witness said he was unable to get close enough to move the pilot. An examination of the airframe and engine showed no evidence of a preexisting anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. The report of the medical examiner noted the pilot’s cause of death as “Hypertensive Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.” The pilot apparently died of a pre-existing natural disease during his attempt to extricate himself from the wreckage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have filed IFR before encountering IMC conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 27 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents27

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