Cessna 172H accident near Mountain View, Arkansas, January 31, 1995
On January 31, 1995 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N2610L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mountain View, Arkansas (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A DOWNWIND RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, HIS FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1995 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain View, Arkansas · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2610L · no longer on the register · serial 17255810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FROM AN ABANDONED GRASS AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS 4,500 FEET LONG. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE USED 2,400 FEET FOR THE TAKEOFF AND THAT THE ACCELERATION WAS POOR DUE TO TALL WET GRASS. HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN HE WAS WITHIN 600 FEET OF THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE END OF THE STRIP, CROSSED A DITCH, AND IMPACTED TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END. A 10 TO 20 KNOT TAILWIND PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 185 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,079 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1994; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.