Cessna 172P N98723

Summary

On 13 May 1994 at about 02:06 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N98723, operated by Cothron Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Arlington, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 May 1994 at 02:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Arlington, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6599, -97.1605

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N98723

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cothron Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW94FA155

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS EXISTED WHEN THE PILOT RENTED THE AIRPLANE & TOOK OFF WITH ONE PASSENGER ABOARD. THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR HAD STAYED OPEN BEYOND NORMAL HOURS AFTER THE PILOT CALLED & STATED HE WANTED TO MAKE THE LATE RENTAL. ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING IN WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, ABOUT 1000 TO 1500 FEET AGL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A STEEP RIGHT BANK & DIVE TOWARD THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A WINGS LEVEL, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON A HEADING OF WEST. IT DISINTEGRATED DURING IMPACT. IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 2.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGY TEST OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD WAS POSITIVE FOR DIPHENHYDRAMINE (AN OVER-THE-COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE) AT A CONCENTRATION OF 0.3 MG/L (WITHIN A THERAPEUTIC RANGE). DIPHENHYDRAMINE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR USE WHILE FLYING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.