Piper PA-32-300 accident near Danville, Arkansas, November 5, 2006
On November 5, 2006 at about 5:20 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N15852, was destroyed in an accident near Danville, Arkansas (Danville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the number 5 cylinder which resulted in oil starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power, and the pilot's inability to see the transmission line during the forced landing. Factors Contributing to the accident were the dark night and the transmission line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2006 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Danville, Arkansas · Danville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N15852 · no longer on the register · serial 327340069
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in cruise flight at an assigned altitude of 6,000 feet mean sea level while on an instrument flight rules flight plan operating on a night cross-country flight while in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported a rough running engine to air traffic controller before transmitting a distress call. The pilot headed towards a local municipal airport; however, discontinued the approach and initiated a forced landing in a cleared pasture that appeared to be a suitable for a forced landing. Radar data depicts the airplane descending toward the area and the ground speed is reduced for the imminent forced landing. Short of the selected landing area, the airplane collided with unmarked powerlines running perpendicular to the selected clearing. There were no reported eyewitness to the accident. The wreckage of the single engine airplane was discovered the next morning. Ground signature at the accident site were consistent with a ground impact in the inverted position. A post-impact fire consumed the airframe, with the exception of the right wing and the aft section of the tail section. An examination of the engine revealed both engine case halves had matching serial numbers. About half of the engine oil pan was consumed by a post-impact fire. Engine control continuity could not be established due to the severity of the fire and separation from the engine mounts. A large hole was found on top of the engine case between the number 4 and number 6 cylinders. In addition, thermal signatures consistent with the lack of oil lubrication were noticeable on both the number 4 and number 6 cylinders. The number 5 cylinder was found separated from its mount. The number 5 connecting rod cap separated from the connecting rod and was not recovered. The maintenance records for the airframe and the powerplant were not located during the course of the accident investigation.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,581.1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LIT Little Rock AR at 4:44 am
- Destination: PWA Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 290, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KRUE, 20 miles away
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.