Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, July 23, 1994
On July 23, 1994 at about 5:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N36566, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeview, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM REQUIRED AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1994 · about 5:43 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N36566 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE OVER-FLYING THE GASTONS RESORT AIRSTRIP. AS THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE AREA IN THE VICINITY OF THE RESORTS OFFICE COMPLEX, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP, IT APPEARED TO BE TOO HIGH TO MAKE A LANDING. THE AIRPLANE 'MADE A SUDDEN UNUSUAL STEEP LEFT TURN.' WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS MID-POINT OF THE RIVER, ITS 'NOSE DROPPED' AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE WITH THE ENGINE 'SCREAMING.' THE LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND WAS RECOVERED DOWNSTREAM.
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: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,379 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1994; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from HRO, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.