Piper PA-28-161 accident near Van Buren, Arkansas, July 13, 1995
On July 13, 1995 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9869K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Buren, Arkansas (Twin Cities Airport). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING RESULTING IN AN OVERSHOOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1995 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Van Buren, Arkansas · Twin Cities Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9869K · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH WHILE ON DOWNWIND, AND HE EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY AND RAN OFF THE END DUE TO THE 'EXCESSIVE AIR SPEED.' DURING THE POSTCRASH EXAMINATION NO ANOMALIES COULD BE FOUND THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 394 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 354 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-O36 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F39 Sherman-Denison TX
- Destination: 39A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N9869K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.