Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Heber Springs, Arkansas, July 26, 1999
On July 26, 1999 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7605J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heber Springs, Arkansas (River Acres airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive approach airspeed resulting in the airplane overrunning the runway, and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1999 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Heber Springs, Arkansas · River Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7605J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing roll at a private grass airstrip. The pilot told an FAA inspector that his landing approach speed was 'too hot,' and on the landing roll, he overran the runway. During the landing roll, the pilot applied 'excessive braking while turning, resulting in the right main landing gear collapsing.'
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: student
- Flight time: 70 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2M8 Memphis TN
- Destination: 74M AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from LIT, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.