Cessna 172 accident near Delaplane, Arkansas, April 25, 1982
On April 25, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N3588S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delaplane, Arkansas (Private 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Delaplane, Arkansas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3588S · no longer on the register · serial 172-50788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON LANDING THE PILOT NOTICED BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR DUE TO WET GRASS ON THE STRIP. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SOFT SPOT ON THE RUNWAY, SANK IN AND SHEARED OFF THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT/OWNER HAD RECENTLY ADDED DIRT TO SEVERAL LOW SPOTS ON THE STRIP AND HAD NOT COMPACTED IT.
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
- Flight time: 229 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,314 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corning AR at 3:45 pm
- Destination: CGS College Park MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm
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.