Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Widener, Arkansas 72394
Tuesady, June 24, 2003 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted wires and subsequently the terrain while on approach to a private airstrip. The pilot reported he was at a low altitude and saw wires in front of the airplane. The pilot noted he attempted to maneuver to avoid the wires but "clipped them anyway." The pilot stated he attempted to continue landing and stalled the airplane several feet above the ground. The pilot reported the main landing gear impacted the terrain first and the airplane subsequently rolled over. The wires were not marked for increased visibility.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in a stall. A factor contributing to the accident was the unmarked wires.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Widener
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72394
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340646N
Event Location Longitude 0903326W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 83
Weather Observation Facility ID AWM
Elevation of weather observation facility 212
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) 2137
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KAWM 241253Z AUTO 14006KT 10SM CLR 24/18 A30
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14206
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 438
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Little Rock FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4478B
NTSB Number CHI03LA180
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 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26822
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 8 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 6496
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John G Howard
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4461 Timmeron Cv.
Aircraft Owner City Bartlett
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38135
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 AWM
Departure City West Memphis
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AWM
Destination City West Memphis
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2003 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --