Cessna 172N accident near Greenbrier, Arkansas, June 15, 1997
On June 15, 1997 at about 2:34 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738YG, was destroyed in an accident near Greenbrier, Arkansas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude maneuver. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of operation and inadequate training by the company management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1997 · about 2:34 pm local time
- Place
- Greenbrier, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738YG · no longer on the register · serial 17270337
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial photography flight maneuver, the airplane impacted power lines (35' high) and trees (40' high) during an uncontrolled descent. Witnesses heard the aircraft engine, did not recall any discrepancies with the aircraft, and observed the airplane maneuvering in the area of power lines, trees, and a water tower (92' high). The commercial pilot flew his initial 10 hours of aerial photography with a company photographer (formerly a company pilot). Company guidelines stated, in part, that the pilot is required to adjust altitude and radius according to the 'photographer's command.' The company operated without a flight department head and none of the company management personnel were pilots or mechanics. There were no written guidelines for training or pairing of pilots and photographers. There was no formal pilot flight training curriculum specific to the type of flying. Aircraft records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Flight control continuity was confirmed to the flight control surfaces. The flaps were in the retracted position. Toxicology was negative.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 616 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,973 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1996; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Portraits, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FSM Fort Smith AR at 12:21 pm
- Destination: JBR Jonesboro AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.