Cessna P210N accident near Conway, Arkansas, November 7, 2012
On November 7, 2012 at about 6:04 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna P210N, registered N887JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Conway, Arkansas (Dennis F Cantrell Field Airpor). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect the lack of fuel and resulted in fuel exhaustion during climb, and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from which he was unable to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2012 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, Arkansas · Dennis F Cantrell Field Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N, built 1981 · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N887JA · no longer on the register · serial P21000755
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during climb after takeoff when it was about 300 to 500 feet about ground level. The airplane then impacted trees and terrain about 300 feet north of the departure runway end. A witness stated that the airplane stalled during the climb and banked "hard" right before impacting the ground. There was no fuel smell and no foliage discoloration consistent with a fuel spill at the accident site. Neither of the two header fuel tanks contained fuel. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,381.1 hours in all; 902.7 in this make and model; 2.5 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 2011
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-550-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CWS Conway AR at 6:04 pm
- Destination: UOX Oxford MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 4,875 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from LRF, 17 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.