Melbourne Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Melbourne, Arkansas 72536
Wednesday, March 6, 2002 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was back taxiing on the runway for takeoff when he became incapacitated and lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway at a 20 angle, proceeded past the end of the runway, and down an embankment (approximately 600 feet). The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. Subsequently, the pilot underwent medical treatment and was diagnosed as having had a stroke.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control as a result of becoming incapacitated due to a stroke while taxiing for takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Melbourne
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72536
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360414N
Event Location Longitude 0914945W
Event Location Airport Melbourne Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 42A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
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) 12137
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 7 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 Aug 26 2002 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Little Rock FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51060
NTSB Number FTW02LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15069737
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Mar 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 4457
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jack W. Hopwood
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 Heber Springs Road,
Aircraft Owner City Bateville
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72501
Operator is an individual? Yes
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 42A
Departure City Melbourne
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BVX
Destination City Batesville
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - to takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2002 9:40AM
User who most recently changed record SNYG
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --