Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arcadia, Louisiana 71001
Saturday, November 2, 1985 12:47 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT EXPERIENCED A DIRECTIONAL GYRO FAILURE. THEY COVERED THE INSTRUMENT AND REQUESTED A RETURN TO THEIR DEPARTURE POINT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO FLY THE PUBLISHED APPROACH. THEY REQUESTED A DESCENT TO AN ALTITUDE BELOW THE BASE OF THE CONTROLLER'S RADAR, AND DISAPPEARED SHORTLY AFTER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TALL TREES IN RAINSHOWER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT CLOUD BASE WAS AT TREE TOP LEVEL. INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR PARTIAL PANEL FLIGHT WERE FUNCTIONAL. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/2/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1247
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ARCADIA
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71001
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1152 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID MLU
Elevation of weather observation facility 79
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2372
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 2 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1743
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29702
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93527
NTSB Number FTW86FA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 152-85508
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 13 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 1564
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 3181 TECH STATION
Operator City RUSTON
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 71272
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RSN
Departure City RUSTON
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1233
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IAW
Destination City HOUSTON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --