Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arthur, Nebraska 69121
Thursday, June 11, 2009 12:33 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to radar track data, the airplane proceeded on a south-southwest course after takeoff. Approximately 48 minutes later, the airplane abruptly reversed course, proceeding northbound. It was approximately 400 feet above ground level at that time. About one minute later, the airplane entered a left turn and flew nearly three complete 360-degree turns, each with a successively smaller turn radius. The airplane gained approximately 1,200 feet in altitude from the time of the initial course reversal until the third 360-degree turn. The airplane then entered a descending, right turn and impacted the terrain about 45 seconds later. The accident site was located on open, marshy terrain. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with preimpact failure. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the accident site, with local cloud ceilings as low as 600 feet above ground level. Advisories were in effect for instrument flight rules conditions. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a pre-flight weather briefing from Flight Service or Direct User Access Terminal System (DUATS); although, comments to an individual at the departure airport indicated that the pilot was aware of marginal weather conditions along his intended route of flight. Toxicology results were consistent with the pilot’s recent use of an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedating and impairing effects.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the use of a over-the-counter medication with sedative effects and spatial disorientation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1233
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Arthur
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69121
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413413N
Event Location Longitude 1014130W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1310 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID OGA
Elevation of weather observation facility 3278
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26127
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Lincoln FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2009 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N360KK
NTSB Number CEN09LA350
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PETERSON ALLEN L
Aircraft Model DRAGONFLY II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3600
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 207
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PETERSON ALLEN L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85742-9625
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name PETERSON ALLEN L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TUCSON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85742-9625
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 VTN
Departure City Valentine
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1139
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AVQ
Destination City Tuscon
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 24 2009 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --