Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Hazen, Arkansas, October 25, 1997
On October 25, 1997, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N8146R, was destroyed in an accident near Hazen, Arkansas. It was a personal flight 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. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of aircraft, the pilot's lack of total night flight experience, and the dark night conditions,
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1997
- Place
- Hazen, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N8146R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8018032
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a dark night cross country flight, the airplane impacted trees and terrain following a loss of aircraft control by the non instrument rated private pilot. Sky conditions along the flight route were 2,700 feet broken variable to 3,100 overcast ceilings and the controller last observed the aircraft transponder code at an altitude of 2,100 feet msl. The pilot's total flight time was 132.0 hours of which 7.7 hours were at night. The pilot had received 3.5 hours of dual flight instruction, and a complex aircraft endorsement in the accident aircraft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies that would preclude engine operation were noted.
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: 132 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,188 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 24, 1997; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1M1 Little Rock AR at 11:32 pm
- Destination: MBT Murfreesboro TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.