Cessna 172RG N4734R

Summary

On 15 June 2001 at about 12:30 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N4734R was involved in an accident near Waveland, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 2001 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Waveland, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

30.2878, -89.3686

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N4734R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gulfport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01FA163

1 person died.

The incapacitation of the pilot (cardiovascular) resulting in his inability to fly the airplane and subsequent in-flight collision with trees then a house.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was employed by Omega Protein, Inc., to spot fish while flying and relay that information to fishing boats. The accident pilot and another company pilot departed about the same time in separate airplanes from the same airport for the purpose of fish spotting. Another company pilot departed from another airport about the same time for the same purpose. About 1 hour 40 minutes after the accident flight departed, an unknown company pilot asked the accident pilot his location; he responded that he was east of a location called Cat Island, and he wanted to make a motion to stop fish spotting for the duration of the shift. The pilot who had departed with the accident pilot reported that the accident pilot's voice during this transmission was "weak" sounding. Both other company pilots reported that it was discussed to return due to the inability to see fish. The pilot who departed from the separate airport returned to his departure airport. The pilot who had departed with the accident pilot initially elected to attempt to spot fish for a boat that was heading south of the fleet of boats being spotted by him and the accident pilot. He then returned to near the fleet and attempted to establish radio communications with the accident pilot; but was unsuccessful. A pilot-rated witness who was located approximately 4-5 blocks east of the crash site reported seeing an airplane flying no more than 400 feet above ground level airplane heading north or northwest bound. He estimated the airplane was flying at 80 miles per hour with the engine operating at a decreased rpm; the engine sound was steady with no sputtering. He reported that after flying over land, the airplane entered a 10-15 degree left bank which continued until he lost sight of the airplane. He then heard a sound he associated with the accident. The airplane impacted trees followed by the roof of a house. Post accident examination of the flight controls and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The autopsy report indicated, "Fresh posteroseptal myocardial infarction; stenotic coronary atherosclerosis." Toxicological analysis indicates hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, hydromorphone, and glucose were detected in urine. The pilot was last issued a second class medical certificate on January 12, 2001, with the limitation, "Holder shall wear corrective lenses while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.