Cessna 172 N28RP

Summary

On 9 January 2009 at about 12:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N28RP was involved in an accident near Hardin, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 2009 at 12:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hardin, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

36.7972, -88.2897

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N28RP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Murray → Marion

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA09LA132

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and his impairment from illegal drug use.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot arrived at the airport unannounced and rented the airplane with the stated intention to perform three takeoffs and landings to retain currency, and then fly the airplane to visit his daughter. The pilot subsequently called his daughter and stated that he was not going to make the flight. The pilot then departed the following morning, before sunrise. He flew approximately 50 nautical miles, and then turned around and flew back toward the departure airport. Approximately 10 miles from the departure airport, the airplane initiated a near vertical descent in excess of 6,000 feet-per-minute, and impacted the ground in a nose-low, wings-level attitude. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Toxicological testing performed on the pilot revealed marijuana in the pilot's blood and lung tissue. The testing results suggested use of the illegal drug within about 3 hours of the accident, likely impairing him during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.