Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd. SR3500 Moose accident near Cotter, Arkansas, April 22, 2007
On April 22, 2007 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd. SR3500 Moose, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N360MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cotter, Arkansas (The Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining airplane control and airspeed during the approach. Factors were the gusty wind conditions, the inadvertent stall the pilot encountered, and the power lines that were impacted during the uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2007 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cotter, Arkansas · The Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Murphy Aircraft Mfg, Ltd. SR3500 Moose, amateur-built
- Registration
- N360MM · registry record · serial 176SR
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with power lines and terrain during approach. A post impact fire occurred. A sheriff's report stated that witnesses observed the airplane on a downwind leg. A witness reported that there were "'dust devils' everywhere. The wind was changing direction every few minutes/seconds, with very strong gusts at times." The airplane made a steep right turn and the witnesses reported that the right wing "dropped." The recorded wind was 180 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots. An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed electrical power lines were damaged and the aircraft sustained damage consistent with a post impact fire.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vedeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Clearwater FL
- Destination: 61AR Cotter AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from FLP, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.