Heber Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543
Sunday, September 2, 1990 9:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A TAKEOFF THE OBSERVED AN ERRATIC AIRSPEED INDICATION, FOLLOWED BY ZERO INDICATION, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF HE ATTEMPTED A HIGH SPEED TURN TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRPLANE. THE ERRATIC AIRSPEED WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF A BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM BY AN INSECT NEST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT AND HIS ATTEMPT TO EXECUTE A TURN AT HIGH SPEED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HEBER SPRINGS
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72543
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HEBER SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HBZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 632
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1152 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID JBR
Elevation of weather observation facility 262
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 72
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1900
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 822
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1207
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41921
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2082Y
NTSB Number FTW90LA162
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA28-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28-201T
Aircraft Serial Number 7931143
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FARRIS, KEITH W
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 165
Operator City ASHLAND
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65010
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COU
Destination City ASHLAND
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --