Cessna 172M N20179

Summary

On 7 March 2000 at about 22:49 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N20179 was involved in an accident near Manilla, Arkansas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 March 2000 at 22:49

Classification

Accident

Location

Manilla, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.8802, -90.1602

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N20179

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blytheville → West Memphis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA090

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's performance of low altitude flight and his failure to maintain clearance with the power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a low altitude flight over a lake area, the pilot climbed the airplane over a tree line. Suddenly, the airplane pitched down, the engine rpm's increased, and within seconds the aircraft pitched back up and began to vibrate. A forced landing was made in a soft cultivated field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane flipped to the inverted position. The white and red airplane came to rest approximately 1/2 mile from a high voltage power transmission line. Power company personnel reported that the two shield wires (120 feet agl) of the power line were down, and the 'propeller hub [spinner] was found dead center of the two shield wires and lying under the lines. Cable marks were visible on the hub.' Tree height was estimated at 75 to 100 feet in the vicinity of the power line. One of the propeller blades and the spinner exhibited physical impressions consistent with the diameter of the shield wire cable strands. Red paint transfers were noted on portions of the cable.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.