Cessna 180 accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, July 22, 1997
On July 22, 1997 at about 7:00 am local time, a Cessna 180, registered N9320C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas (Carlisle Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll (at night).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1997 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · Carlisle Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N9320C · registry record · serial 31718
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Skid marks and ground scars indicated that the non-certificated pilot, who was not authorized to use the airplane, lost control during the night takeoff roll. The airplane swerved to the right and went off the runway into the grass, and the left wingtip and horizontal stabilizer dragged on the ground. The airplane was found abandoned beside the runway when airport personnel arrived for work at 0530. An investigation conducted by local law enforcement personnel revealed that the pilot was the airplane owner's 18-year-old son, who had received approximately 6 hours of dual instruction in the airplane, but had not been endorsed for solo flight.
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
- Flight time: 6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M3 at 7:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from LIT, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.