Petit Jean Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morrilton, Arkansas 72110
Wednesday, April 27, 1983 22:43 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE FINAL APPROACH TO LAND AT NIGHT. THE PLT HAD CANCELED HIS IFR CLEARANCE. DURING THE APPROACH THE PLT HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT AND ASKED MEMPHIS CENTER HOW FAR HE WAS FROM THE ARPT. WHEN HE WAS INFORMED HE WAS3 MILES SOUTH HE DECIDED TO MAKE A DESCENDING 360 TURN TO LOSE ALT. AS HE STRAIGHENED THE ACFT AFTER TURNING HE LOOKED IN THE COCKPIT. WHEN HE LOOKED BACK OUT TREES WERE SEEN ILLUMINATED BY THE LANDING LIGHTS. HE TRIED TO CLIMB BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT SO HE MINIMIZED THE SPEED FOR IMPACT IN THE TREES. THE PLT SAID HE WAS FATIGUED, SHOULD NOT HAVE CANCELED IFR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE VERTIGO INDUCING TURN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2243
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MORRILTON
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72110
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PETIT JEAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MPJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 20
Airport Elevation 919
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 29
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 3
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3227
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23714
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 N54174
NTSB Number FTW83LA352
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
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 17274904
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 803
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILBUR H. RAINEY JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 112 MAPLEWOOD DR.
Aircraft Owner City LAFAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70503
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RAMP ONE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ST. LANDRY PARISH AIRPORT
Operator City OPELOUSAS
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70570
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 MO49
Departure City WASHINGTON
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 2015
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 20
Runway Length 5980
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --