Cessna 172D accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, June 12, 1999
On June 12, 1999 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2460Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas (Marty'S Classic Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and her delayed aborted takeoff. Factors were the high density altitude and the tall grass on the airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1999 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesboro, Arkansas · Marty'S Classic Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2460Y · no longer on the register · serial 172-49760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot landed hard after she delayed aborting the takeoff from a grass airstrip with powerlines at the departure end. The engine was developed full power during the takeoff roll to the south with the flaps extended 10 degrees. About half way down the runway, at approximately 60 knots, she raised the nose of the airplane and became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 25 feet agl and drifted to the left of the runway as she maintained 60 knots in a nose-high attitude. When she applied back pressure, the stall warning horn sounded, so she relaxed the back pressure. The pilot became concerned that the airplane might not be able to clear the power lines at the departure end of the airstrip, and elected to abort the takeoff. The pilot reported a 'very hard landing' in a nose low attitude. The winds at the 2,500 feet long grass airstrip were reported as light. The airstrip was not reported to have any obstacles or powerlines when departing to the north. The grass at the airstrip was reported to be 6-inches tall. The temperature was reported as 'a very humid 85 degrees. ' Density altitude was calculated at 1,996 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,505 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 1999; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-2AB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm from JBR, 5 miles away
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.