Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pond Creek, Oklahoma 73766
Monday, February 18, 2002 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting pipeline patrol activities at 300 feet agl. He stated that "everything was quiet, and there was nothing to report." The pilot fell asleep, and the next thing he remembered was hitting the ground in an open wheat field, and sliding 240 feet before coming to rest in an upright position. A sleep log for the 72-hour period immediately preceding the accident showed the pilot experienced no irregular sleep patterns.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to falling asleep while performing pipeline patrol activities.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Pond Creek
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73766
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363829N
Event Location Longitude 0974800W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 35
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 50
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12075
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 19 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2002 9:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Oklahoma FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3402T
NTSB Number FTW02LA081
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17700702
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Feb 11 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 5405
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Eagle Sky Patrol
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC 37 Box 2100
Aircraft Owner City Lead
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57754
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PTT
Departure City Pratt
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1155
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EQA
Destination City El Dorado
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2002 10:46AM
User who most recently changed record SNYG
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --