What happened
On November 11, 2008, at approximately 1400 CST, a Cessna 177RG, registration N2526V, crashed into mountainous terrain near Mena, Arkansas. The aircraft was flying from Willow Springs Memorial Airport (1H5) in Missouri to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) in Texas. At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with heavy fog and visibility as low as 50 feet.
A witness near the accident site reported hearing the engine sputter and quit before hearing the sound of impact and a loud explosion. Another witness on a nearby highway observed the wreckage fully involved in flames. The pilot, a commercial pilot with over 22,000 hours of experience, was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage on November 12, 2008. The aircraft had impacted trees and terrain on the north face of a ridge. Evidence of propeller cuts was found on trees at the initial impact site. The airplane came to rest upright near the edge of a wooded area, approximately 20 feet from State Highway 88.
An examination of the engine and airframe by FAA inspectors and manufacturer representatives found no mechanical evidence of a malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. While the engine, fuel pump, and avionics sustained significant fire and impact damage, the engine was able to be rotated by hand, and compression was obtained. No accident-related data could be recovered from the damaged avionics units.
An autopsy performed by the Arkansas State Laboratory determined the cause of death was Hypertensive Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Toxicology reports showed no traces of drugs, alcohol, carbon monoxide, or cyanide.