Piper PA-20 accident near Searcy, Arkansas, September 13, 1995
On September 13, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7729K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas (Searcy Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WINDS. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1995 · about 6:30 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-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7729K · no longer on the register · serial 20-551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A SOLO STUDENT PRACTICE LESSON, THE PILOT MADE A TRAFFIC PATTERN ENTRY FOR A FULL STOP WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 19. THE INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS 70 MPH WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED 20 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS BANKED 10 DEGREES INTO THE WIND WHICH THE PILOT REPORTED AS 10 KNOTS FROM THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT WHEEL TOUCHED THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WHEEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED AS A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1995; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M07 at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.