Piper PA-22-160 accident near Springdale, Arkansas, September 15, 1990
On September 15, 1990 at about 9:03 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N86483, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Springdale Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DURING LANDING, DUE TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1990 · about 9:03 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Springdale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N86483 · registry record · serial 22-5777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT (FLYING HIS OWN AIRCRAFT) MADE A NORMAL LANDING UNDER CALM WIND CONDITIONS. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY SWERVED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED, DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING AND COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY REVEALED THE CENTERING DETENT HAD FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H73 Tahlequah OK at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,302 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from FYU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.