Cessna 172P accident near Lehi, Arkansas, April 11, 1991
On April 11, 1991 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N51254, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lehi, Arkansas (Unknown airport). It was a ferry 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: THE WET RUNWAY AND RESULTANT HYDROPLANING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1991 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lehi, Arkansas · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N51254 · registry record · serial 17274291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BECAUSE OF DETERIORATING WEATHER, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING AT AN AIRSTRIP AT LEHI, ARKANSAS. THE RUNWAY WAS WET AND THE AIRCRAFT HYDROPLANED. AFTER LEAVING THE PAVED RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,118 hours in all; 266 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 1,940 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Berry Aviation Of Pine Bluff,
The flight
- Departed from: MXA Manila AR at 8:20 pm
- Destination: AWM West Memphis AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.