Mcdaniels Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
Saturday, September 6, 1997 14:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately 15 feet AGL during the takeoff initial climb when it would no longer sustain flight. The airplane descended below powerlines and the pilot landed the airplane in a field to the right of the runway extended centerline, in order to avoid a residence located near the departure end of the runway. During the landing the aircraft contacted high weeds, the nose struck the ground, and the aircraft flipped over coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no discrepancies with the airplane or the engine. Witnesses observed the airplane 'shake' and 'wobbling' descending to the ground. The runway at the unimproved and abandoned airport had not been mowed and tall grass prevailed for the entire length of the runway. At a field elevation of 262 feet and a temperature of 88 degree F., density altitude was calculated at 2,000 feet. The pilot upheld that his logbook had been destroyed and that he held a private pilot certificate. Research has not revealed any evidence of the issuance of a private pilot certificate.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the aircraft's airspeed. Factors were the high density altitude and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City JONESBORO
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72401
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MCDANIELS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 262
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID KJB
Elevation of weather observation facility 262
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 846
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1545
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4186C
NTSB Number FTW97LA341
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Burgess
Aircraft Model SKYHOPPER
Aircraft Series Identifier SKYHOPPER
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 24 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 624
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENNETH R. ROLAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3805 BURDYSHAW
Aircraft Owner City JONESBORO
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 125
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --