Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fordyce, Arkansas 71742
Saturday, March 17, 1990 10:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT, FATHER OF THE PASSENGER, A MANIC DEPRESSANT, SAID THAT HIS 29 YEAR OLD SON SEIZED THE CONTROLS WHILE CRUISING AT 5500 MSL, AND ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE AIRCRAFT DOWN INTO A LAKE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO OVERPOWER HIS SON AND RECOVERED AT ABOUT 3500 FT MSL. THEN, HIS SON SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE IGNITION KEYS AND THREW THE KEYS OUT THE WINDOW. ONCE AGAIN, THE SON ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OVER THE CONTROLS AND SUCCEEDED IN PUTTING THE AIRCRAFT INTO A SPIN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEARING A STALL AND HE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE ACFT BETWEEN TWO TALL TREES. THE ACFT CUT ONE TREE OFF AND UP ROOTED THE OTHER. THIS RESULTED IN THE ACFT LOSING MOST OF ITS FORWARD SPEED AND IT FELL TO THE GROUND FROM ABOUT 30 FEET AGL. THE PILOT AND PAX SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PAX WAS PLACE IN A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PASSENGER'S INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT BY SEIZING THE CONTROLS AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FORDYCE
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71742
Event Date Year 1990
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1115 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID PBR
Elevation of weather observation facility 206
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 127
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40698
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3520R
NTSB Number MKC90LA066
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A23
Aircraft Series Identifier A23
Aircraft Serial Number M674
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 22 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 1234
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHNSTON WILLIAM D
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR #3, BOX 185
Aircraft Owner City NEW CUMBERLAND
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 26047
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHNSTON, WILLIAM D.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT3, BOX 182
Operator City NEW CUMBERLAND
Operator State WV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 26047
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 6F4
Departure City ABILENE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HLD
Destination City HOLLY SPRINGS
Destination State MS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --