Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manilla, Arkansas 72442
Tuesady, March 7, 2000 16:49 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a low altitude flight over a lake area, the pilot climbed the airplane over a tree line. Suddenly, the airplane pitched down, the engine rpm's increased, and within seconds the aircraft pitched back up and began to vibrate. A forced landing was made in a soft cultivated field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane flipped to the inverted position. The white and red airplane came to rest approximately 1/2 mile from a high voltage power transmission line. Power company personnel reported that the two shield wires (120 feet agl) of the power line were down, and the 'propeller hub [spinner] was found dead center of the two shield wires and lying under the lines. Cable marks were visible on the hub.' Tree height was estimated at 75 to 100 feet in the vicinity of the power line. One of the propeller blades and the spinner exhibited physical impressions consistent with the diameter of the shield wire cable strands. Red paint transfers were noted on portions of the cable.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's performance of low altitude flight and his failure to maintain clearance with the power lines.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1649
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MANILLA
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72442
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 136
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2321
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20179
NTSB Number FTW00LA090
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17261072
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMMAR M. AMMAR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3591 SHERROD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NESBID
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38651
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 No
Departure Airport Code HKA
Departure City BLYTHEVILLE
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AWM
Destination City WEST MEMPHIS
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --