Piper PA-28-140 accident near Russellville, Arkansas, August 20, 1994
On August 20, 1994 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N41472, was substantially damaged in an accident near Russellville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1994 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Russellville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N41472 · registry record · serial 28-7425245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE VFR EN ROUTE, THE WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION 30 MILES AWAY DETERIORATED TO IFR. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DEVIATE AROUND THE WEATHER. NOW LOW ON FUEL, THE PILOT CONTINUED ON TOWARD THE AIRPORT IN LOWERING CEILINGS AT 700 FEET AGL. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE 3.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT WING STRUCK FENCE POST AND DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE RIGHT WING SKIN, WING RIBS, AND RIGHT FLAP. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINED IN BOTH FUEL TANKS.
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: 65 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGR Sugarland TX at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from FSM, 50 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.