Piper J-5 accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas, May 26, 2002
On May 26, 2002 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper J-5, registered N38399, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas (Skypoint Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the probability of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2002 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greers Ferry, Arkansas · Skypoint Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-5 · all J-5s on the register
- Registration
- N38399 · registry record · serial 5-947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just after liftoff, the engine lost power. The pilot then tried to abort the takeoff by setting the aircraft back onto the runway. He decided to abort because of a perpendicular tree line located at the end of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with trees and brush. The loss of engine power could not be determined, although the pilot suspected carburetor ice. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and the temperature/dewpoint in which the airplane was operating, a "serious icing" probability could have existed.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2001; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Greers Ferry AR at 10:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Greers Ferry AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
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.