Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ashdown, Arkansas, July 4, 1997
On July 4, 1997 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1798J, was destroyed in an accident near Ashdown, Arkansas (Garrison Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent stall/mush. A factor was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1997 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ashdown, Arkansas · Garrison Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1798J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24224
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the full power takeoff with the flaps at 25 degrees, the airplane became airborne about 1,500 feet down the grass runway. After clearing a high line at the departure end of the runway, the '[air]plane stopped climbing.' Upon observing a tree line, the pilot turned the airplane 90 degrees to the east and the '[air]plane started to mush.' After the pilot got the airplane to straight flight, the airplane 'mushed to the ground.' The pilot reported that the '[air]plane appeared to be under full power.' The airplane was destroyed by the post crash fire. The weight at the time of takeoff was 2,260 pounds (maximum gross 2,325 pounds) with a field elevation of 330 feet and a temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The calculated density altitude was 2,800 feet.
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: 249 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 198 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1997; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.