Piper PA-23-250 accident near Searcy, Arkansas, May 27, 1993
On May 27, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N5272Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas (Searcy Municipal 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
TOTAL POWER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Searcy, Arkansas · Searcy Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5272Y · registry record · serial 27-2337
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE WAS PASSING THROUGH 700 FEET MSL AFTER TAKEOFF, HE LOST POWER ON BOTH ENGINES AS HE ADJUSTED THE PROPELLERS. HE STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY 'PUSHED EVERYTHING FORWARD.' HE THEN TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT WITH THE INTENT OF LANDING ON THE RUNWAY OR THE TAXIWAY; HOWEVER, BOTH WERE OCCUPIED BY AIRCRAFT. HE THEN ELECTED TO LAND GEAR DOWN IN AN OPEN PASTURE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 325 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,564 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CZE Clarksville AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.