Piper PA-25-260 accident near Des Arc, Arkansas, May 21, 1992
On May 21, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-260, registered N7354Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Des Arc, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE FAILED EXHAUST STACK RESULTANT FROM INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Des Arc, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-260 · all PA-25-260s on the register
- Registration
- N7354Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT SMELLED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND RUN ROUGH. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT, ROUGH OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THE GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT EXHAUST STACK HAD SEPARATED, BURNED AN ENGINE WIRE BUNDLE, AND SUBJECTED THE FUEL STRAINER TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED THROUGH CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1992; 306 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LIT, 20 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.
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.