Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Higginson, Arkansas 72143
Thursday, June 7, 2012 13:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was departing the local airstrip to perform an aerial application. About 50 feet above ground level, the pilot noticed a partial loss of engine power and felt a vibration from the engine. The pilot performed a forced landing in a wheat field, and a postimpact fire ensued, which consumed the airplane. Based on his observations during the engine failure, the pilot suspected a cylinder or magneto failure. However, the engine was not disassembled for further examination and the cause of the partial loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to impact and fire damage.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Higginson
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72143
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351238N
Event Location Longitude 0914415W
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 1356 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SRC
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30284
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2012 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record saua
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N779EF
NTSB Number CEN12LA352
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G164
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number 474B
Certified Max Gross Weight 6075
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 502
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name J P Freppon Flying Service, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bald Knob
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72010
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name J P Freppon Flying Service, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Bald Knob
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72010
Operator Code F9JG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Higginson
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Higginson
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2012 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record saua
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 --