Cessna 172K N7490G

Summary

On 11 April 2008 at about 06:30 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N7490G, operated by Jeremy Rustad, was involved in an accident near Roseglen, North Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 April 2008 at 06:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Roseglen, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

47.6953, -101.7603

Aircraft

Cessna 172K

Registration

N7490G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jeremy Rustad

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Garrison → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI08LA101

2 people died.

The pilot failed to maintain obstacle clearance from the TV antenna during a low altitude maneuver. Contributing factors were the antenna, the night conditions, and pilot impairment due to alcohol.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During dark night condition, the airplane impacted the terrain after hitting a 40-foot tall television antenna that was standing next to the pilot's doublewide trailer that was located at the pilot's farmstead. The airplane wreckage was discovered in a hayfield about 500 feet west of the trailer at about 1040 the next morning. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the airplane's right wing struck the antenna about 8 feet from the top of the antenna. Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the flight controls to their respective attach points on the flight control surfaces. The propeller exhibited characteristics indicative of engine power. A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. The toxicological evaluation of the blood specimen indicated the presence of ethyl alcohol in a concentration of 0.05 percent by weight. This level is consistent with impairment. The FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 91.17 prohibits the operation of an aircraft with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or higher.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.