Undetermined · NTSB CEN09LA054
CESSNA 177RG — Mena, AR
| Date | November 11, 2008 |
| Location | Mena, AR |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 177RG |
| Purpose of flight | Business |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Post-impact Fire/smoke (post-impact) |
| Pilot age | 61 |
| Pilot total time | 22,228 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 2,525 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Cardiovascular-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Low visibility-Decision related to condition - F
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Low ceiling-Decision related to condition - F
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - F
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Mountainous/hilly terrain-Response/compensation - C
What happened
The pilot was en-route to a business engagement and was flying in an area of deteriorating weather conditions. The airplane impacted a mountain ridge in instrument meteorological conditions and was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. A witness, located approximately one mile north of the accident site, heard the sounds of impact and described “very foggy” conditions with a visibility of 50 feet. Another witness driving along the highway on the mountain ridge was in “dense fog” with visibility of 1/4 mile. The witness saw the wreckage on the side of the highway with the airplane fully involved in fire. The witness said the pilot was unbelted and almost completely outside the airplane. Because of the flames the witness said he was unable to get close enough to move the pilot. An examination of the airframe and engine showed no evidence of a preexisting anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. The report of the medical examiner noted the pilot’s cause of death as “Hypertensive Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.” The pilot apparently died of a pre-existing natural disease during his attempt to extricate himself from the wreckage.