Cessna 172N N738YG

Summary

On 15 June 1997 at about 14:34 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N738YG, operated by Sky Portraits, Inc., was involved in an accident near Greenbrier, Arkansas, 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

15 June 1997 at 14:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenbrier, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N738YG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sky Portraits, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Smith → Jonesboro

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA221

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude maneuver. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of operation and inadequate training by the company management.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial photography flight maneuver, the airplane impacted power lines (35' high) and trees (40' high) during an uncontrolled descent. Witnesses heard the aircraft engine, did not recall any discrepancies with the aircraft, and observed the airplane maneuvering in the area of power lines, trees, and a water tower (92' high). The commercial pilot flew his initial 10 hours of aerial photography with a company photographer (formerly a company pilot). Company guidelines stated, in part, that the pilot is required to adjust altitude and radius according to the 'photographer's command.' The company operated without a flight department head and none of the company management personnel were pilots or mechanics. There were no written guidelines for training or pairing of pilots and photographers. There was no formal pilot flight training curriculum specific to the type of flying. Aircraft records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Flight control continuity was confirmed to the flight control surfaces. The flaps were in the retracted position. Toxicology was negative.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.