Piper PA-24-180 accident near Springdale, Arkansas, March 16, 1984
On March 16, 1984 at about 2:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N6177P, was destroyed in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1984 · about 2:14 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6177P · no longer on the register · serial 1279
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE 400-600 FT OVERCAST SKY IN ABOUT A 75 DEG NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING ATTITUDE. IT IMPACTED A 4-STRAND HIGH VOLTAGE POWERLINE PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED HIS INSTRUMENT RATING IN JANUARY. NO RECORDS WERE FOUND INDICATING THAT THE PLT EVER FLOWN ACTUAL OR SIMULATED INSTRUMENTS IN A PA-24. THE PLT HAD A MEDICAL HISTORY OF DIZZINESS. ON 3/6/84 HE WAS TREATED FOR NAUSEA, VOMITING & DIZZINESS. HE WAS GIVEN 3 MEDICATIONS AT THAT TIME. ON 3/8/84 THE PLT TELEPHONED THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTERTO SAY HE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING DIZZINESS & WAS PRESCRIBED ANOTHER DRUG. HE AGAIN CALLED ON 3/10/84 COMPLAINING OF DIZZINESS. HOWEVER, A DRUG SCREEN REVEALED NO TRACES OF MEDICATIONS ABLE TO BE TESTED FOR. THE ACFT WAS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MAI Marianna FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 400 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:21 pm from FYV, 20 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.