Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Rogers, Arkansas, July 13, 1996
On July 13, 1996 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N810EM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rogers, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel. Factors were the below landing minimums weather conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1996 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rogers, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N810EM · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses and law enforcement personnel at the accident site, the pilot executed 3 missed approaches at the Rogers Municipal Airport while attempting to land with weather below published minimums. At 0734, the pilot reported to ATC that he was low on fuel. Two minutes later, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel. The airplane was last observed on radar descending through 1,500 feet, and subsequently impacted trees approximately one mile northwest of the airport. Examination of the wreckage confirmed that both fuel cells were empty. Attempts to obtain a report from the pilot were unsuccessful.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUP Tupelo MS at 11:00 am
- Destination: ROG
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:36 pm from ROG
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.