Cessna 180K accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, November 8, 2025
On November 8, 2025 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 180K, registered N2697K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lakeview, Arkansas (Gastons 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue an approach that resulted in a long landing and inability to stop prior to the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident were the light conditions and a road with vehicles on it immediately adjacent to the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2025 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · Gastons · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K, built 1979 · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2697K · registry record · serial 18053038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the pilot stated he had difficulty seeing due to the sun in his eyes. He thought his visibility would improve as his altitude decreased but it did not. The airplane floated longer in the flare than anticipated. The pilot elected to land, use aggressive braking, and if necessary, cross a road into an open area that could be used as an overrun. During the landing roll he was unable to use the open area to stop beyond the end of the runway because there were two cars on the road which the pilot turned sharply to the left to avoid. During the turn, the left wheel assembly separated from the airplane and the landing gear strut dug into the ground. The airplane was substantially damaged when the left wing struck the ground bending the spar outboard of the wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › (general) › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Bright light › Effect on personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,121 hours in all; 925 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 14, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,410.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental / P Ponk O-470-50 (piston); 810 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62AR Busch AR at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 3M0 Lakeview AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from KFLP, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFLP 082156Z AUTO 23006KT 10SM SCT110 23/04 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP081 T02330039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N2697K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA040.