FYI:  These are accident reports taken from the NTSB Website. 

Their reproduction here is done so, strictly for educational purposes.

August 3 - These accidents all happened within 100 miles from my home airport of Russellville, AR.  Some of the pilots were my friends, but all were brothers in flight.  The number of accidents, nearness of them and the number of fatalities caught my attention.  Our prayers go out to the family and friends of those involved in these accidents.  Four deaths and several injured in the five accidents.  All of the accidents happened within the first 15 days of July 2004. 

NTSB Identification: FTW04FA172
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 02, 2004 in Hot Springs, AR
Aircraft: Piper PA-32-300
Injuries: 1 Fatal. 

These reports contain preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 2, 2004, at 1043 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 single-engine airplane, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The instrument rated private pilot/owner, the sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated at Lebanon-Springfield Airport (6I2), near Springfield, Kentucky, about 0700, destined for Hot Springs/Memorial Airport (HOT), near Hot Springs, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

A preliminary review of air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that the pilot was cleared for the ILS RWY 5 approach into the Hot Springs Airport.

Preliminary data downloaded from a handheld global positioning system (GPS) found at the crash site revealed that the airplane departed Springfield about 0700 and proceeded westbound toward Hot Springs. A review of the last eight minutes of recorded data revealed the airplane approached Hot Springs Airport from the southwest, and was abeam HOSSY, the final approach fix, at 1038:08 at an altitude of 3,055 feet mean sea level (msl), and a groundspeed of 127 knots. The airplane made a series of left and right turns as it proceeded along the localizer course toward the airport.

Two minutes and 36 seconds later, the airplane was abeam the missed approach point at an altitude of 2,536 feet msl, and a ground speed of 114 knots. For the next two minutes and 30 seconds, the airplane continued to descend as it proceeded on a northeasterly heading away from the airport. A review of the last 11 seconds of recorded data revealed that the airplane began a left turn to the north before the data ended at 1043:30 at an altitude of 970 feet, and a ground speed of 111 knots. The last GPS coordinate was recorded at 34 degrees, 31 minutes north latitude, and 93 degrees, 01 minutes west longitude, approximately five miles northeast of the airport.

A witness was in her home located on Indian Mountain. She was talking on the telephone, when she heard the sound of an airplane "flying really low" near her home. The witness said the engine sounded normal and "it wasn't sputtering or anything like that...then the sound of the engine stopped very abruptly."

The airplane wreckage was examined at the accident site on July 3, 2004. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane impacted heavily wooded terrain, on an upslope of approximately 60 degrees, and came to rest at an elevation of approximately 950 feet msl. The wreckage came to rest on the south side of Indian Mountain, located within the Hot Springs National Park. The top of the summit was approximately 1,000 feet msl. The wreckage path was oriented on a measured heading of 357 degrees magnetic, and was approximately 50 feet long.
 
The face of the altimeter was separated from its housing, and the setting in the Kollsman window was 30.04 inches Mercury.

A review of the published approach revealed that the inbound course for the ILS RWY 5 approach was 050 degrees magnetic, and the missed approach point was 715 feet msl. The crossing altitude at HOSSY, the final approach fix, was 2,300 feet msl. The distance between HOSSY and the missed approach point, which was located a half nautical mile from the end of the runway, was 5.1 nautical miles. The airport elevation was 540 feet msl. The published missed approach procedures are to climb to 1,100 feet msl, then make a climbing right hand turn (wrong direction) to 3,000 feet msl via the Hot Springs VOR 123 degree radial to SOCKS intersection and hold.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical was issued on August 27, 2002. At that time, he reported a total of 1,600 flight hours. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed his last biannual flight review was completed on December 13, 1999.

Weather reported at Hot Springs Airport at 1053 was wind from 220 degrees at 4 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 800 feet agl, broken clouds at 1,300 feet agl, overcast clouds at 2,100 feet agl, temperature 76 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 73 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure setting 30.03 inches Mercury, with remarks of lightning northeast of the airport, and that rain began at 1016 and ended at 1020. 

NTSB Identification: FTW04LA180
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 09, 2004 in Sherrill, AR
Aircraft: Cessna 150M

Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

On July 9, 2004, approximately 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, single engine airplane, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Sherrill, Arkansas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The cross-country flight departed Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Stuttgart, Arkansas, at 1345, and was destined for Sherrill.

According to the pilot, while on a solo cross-country, the engine began to "sputter and cut out." Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power, and the electrical system in the airplane also lost power. The student pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted cornstalks, the terrain, and came to rest upright in a field.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported the aft fuselage was buckled, the nose landing gear was separated, and the firewall was bent. The inspector observed fuel in both main fuel tanks, and no damage was noted on the propeller. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
 

NTSB Identification: DEN04FA104
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 11, 2004 in Paris, AR
Aircraft: Cessna 172I
Injuries: 2 Fatal. 

On July 11, 2004, at 0530 central daylight time, a Cessna 172I, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it struck several trees and subsequently impacted terrain approximately 0.42 miles east of the Paris-Subiaco Municipal Airport (7M6), Paris, Arkansas. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Ozark, Arkansas.

A witness near the airport said he heard the airplane at about 0530, but did not see the airplane. The witness said it was foggy, that you could not see beyond 50 feet. The witness said that the airplane sounded normal - "running like they revved it [the airplane] up for takeoff." The witness said he then heard a sound like something hitting a building.

At 0553, the Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at Fort Smith, Arkansas, 275 degrees from the accident site at 33 nautical miles, reported a 300 foot ceiling, surface visibility of 5 statute miles and mist, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 71 degrees F, winds 040 degrees at 4 knots, and altimeter 30.10 inches. 

NTSB Identification: FTW04LA183
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 14, 2004 in Springfield, AR
Aircraft: Beech C23

Injuries: 1 Fatal, 3 Serious.
On July 14 2004, at 0900 central daylight time, a Beech C-23 single-engine airplane was destroyed upon collision with wires and subsequent impact with terrain while attempting to takeoff from the Heifer Creek Ranch Airport (16AR) near Springfield, Arkansas. The airline transport rated pilot was fatally injured, while the 3 passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight, for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

Law enforcement authorities reported that the single-engine airplane collided with wires running perpendicular to the departure end of the runway a the Heifer Creek Ranch Airport (16AR), a private turf airstrip located approximately two miles northwest of Springfield. The airport, at an elevation of 730 feet, features a single 2,000-foot long, by 100-foot wide turf runway (runway 6/24). The airport descriptions describe the presence of 30 foot wires located 200 feet from the end of the runway. The tall was reported to be tall, and the takeoff was attempted in an "up hill" direction.

The closest weather reporting station was the Russellville Regional Airport (KRUE), located 25.7 nautical miles west of the accident site. At 0853, KRUE was reporting winds variable at 4 knots, with 10 miles visibility, a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 24 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of Mercury. The investigator -in-charge calculated the density altitude at 2,197 feet at the time of the accident.

A conditional release was issued to recover the remains of the aircraft to a secure location where further examinations could be accomplished. 

The last and final crash 

NTSB Identification: FTW04CA185.
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, July 16, 2004 in Havana, AR
Aircraft: Grumman G-164
Injuries: 1 Serious.

On July 16, 2004, approximately 0932 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164 single-engine tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane, was substantially damaged when it struck a power line and impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Havana, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Poe's Aero Service, of Conway, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Havana, Arkansas, at an unknown time.

According to an Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the 20,000-hour pilot was maneuvering to return to a rice field where he had been performing an aerial application when the airplane struck two power lines approximately 30 feet in height. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest inverted in a rice field.

A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot.