Arnold Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Halls, Tennessee 38040
Saturday, September 21, 1985 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT 2500 FEET AND POINTED OUT THE OLD NAVAL BASE TO HIS RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WHEN HE SLUMPED OVER THE YOKE. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT HELD THE PILOT OFF THE CONTROLS WHILE HER NON-PILOT HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT. HE MISSED THE TAXIWAY ON THE OLD NAVAL BASE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A COTTON FIELD. HE SPOTTED A HOUSE AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND TURNED JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND BOUNCED UP ON THE TAXIWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/21/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HALLS
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38040
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ARNOLD FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M31
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 240
Airport Elevation 337
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 332
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 65
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2374
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29700
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2858E
NTSB Number ATL85FA280
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271349
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 Sep 4 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1204
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOONEY LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8271 FARMINGTON DRIVE EAST
Aircraft Owner City SOUTHHAVEN
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38671
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name METRO FLYING SCHOOL & CLUB,INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11299 AIRPORT ROAD
Operator City OLIVE BRANCH
Operator State MS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38654
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 OLV
Departure City OLIVE BRANCH
Departure State MS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --