Cessna 172P accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, July 4, 1991
On July 4, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N64344, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeview, Arkansas (Gaston'S airport). It was a personal 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
(1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING AND (2) HIS SUBSEQUENT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · Gaston'S · 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
- N64344 · registry record · serial 17275548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER STOPPING ONCE TO GET DIRECTIONS AND SOLICITING INFLIGHT DIRECTIONS FROM ANOTHER PILOT, THE PILOT ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WHICH WAS A 3,200 FOOT SOD AIRSTRIP LOCATED AT A RESORT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MAKE A STEEP, 15 TO 20 DEGREE NOSE DOWN, APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FLARED AND AS A RESULT IT IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE NOSE GEAR. AFTER INITIAL GROUND CONTACT, WHICH WAS ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED FOR ABOUT 40 FEET BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN THE SECOND TIME. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED ON THE SECOND GROUND IMPACT, THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER, AND SLID TO A STOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDED, BUT DECIDED 'TO RIDE IT OUT.'
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: 108 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M06 Russellville AR at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from HRO, 15 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N64344 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.