Cessna 172 accident near Odom, Arkansas, August 23, 2001
On August 23, 2001 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N9154B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odom, Arkansas (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to follow the proper procedures for hand-propping an airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2001 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Odom, Arkansas · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9154B · no longer on the register · serial 36754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to start the airplane; however, he was unsuccessful due to a weak battery. He stated that he moved the throttle to the closed position and exited the airplane. His passenger remained in the airplane. He rotated the propeller manually and the engine started. He then moved away from the airplane; however, the airplane began moving across the airstrip. The passenger saw trees and jumped from the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the trees and came to a stop. The pilot added that he may have "bumped the throttle" as he was exiting the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Odom AR at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:59 pm from LRF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.