Big Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Island, Arkansas 71674
Friday, May 27, 1988 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN INCAPACITATING MEDICAL EVENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL SEGMENT OF TAKEOFF. AUTOPSY FINDINGS LISTED THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS 'DROWNING IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE'. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND SUBMERGED IN APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET OF WATER. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, TO INCLUDE THE ENGINE, FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE OF ENGINE OR AIRFRAME MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A MEDICAL EVENT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BIG ISLAND
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71674
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BIG ISLAND
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 140
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID GLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 112
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 64
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1732
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2445
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 27 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39450
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3618Q
NTSB Number MKC88FA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A-23-19
Aircraft Series Identifier A-23-1900
Aircraft Serial Number MB-248
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 2 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 2363
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREG CASTEEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 207 N 2ND ST.
Aircraft Owner City MCGHEE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71654
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 7M1
Destination City MCGHEE
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2003 4:35PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --