Piper PA-22-160 accident near North Little Rock, Arkansas, April 5, 2009
On April 5, 2009 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9600D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near North Little Rock, Arkansas (North Little Rock Municipal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2009 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Little Rock, Arkansas · North Little Rock Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9600D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted takeoff with crosswinds that were 60 degrees off of the runway heading at 24 knots, gusting to 34 knots. Unable to keep the airplane on the runway centerline, the pilot reportedly elected to exit the downwind side of the concrete runway onto the grass. As the airplane exited the runway's edge it nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The airplane's wings and vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. There were no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane's flight controls.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Capability exceeded
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 254 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 27, 1994
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,983 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORK North Little Rock AR at 9:45 pm
- Destination: M77 Nashville AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 24 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LIT, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.