Cessna 120 accident near Lonoke, Arkansas, January 26, 2004
On January 26, 2004, a Cessna 120, registered N1961V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lonoke, Arkansas (Country Air Estates airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the dusk lighting conditions and unlit airfield.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2004
- Place
- Lonoke, Arkansas · Country Air Estates · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1961V · no longer on the register · serial 14172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 380-hour pilot reported that during cruise flight he heard "the engine make two loud knocking sounds and it started to vibrate and loose power." The pilot initiated a forced landing to an unlit airfield east of his position. During the landing roll, he realized he "wouldn't be able to stop the airplane before running into trees located at the end of the runway." The pilot turned the airplane left, exiting the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During an on-scene examination of the airplane, the engine was started and it ran for approximately 15 seconds before it was turned off with the magneto switch. When the propeller was manually rotated by hand, valve train continuity was established throughout, and all four cylinders produced compression. No mechanical deficiencies were noted, and the reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
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: 380 hours in all; 232 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,348.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2003; 530.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGT Stuttgart AR
- Destination: 1M1 North Little Ro AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.