Piper J5A accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas, November 19, 1984
On November 19, 1984 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper J5A, registered N35786, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- November 19, 1984 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Stuttgart, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N35786 · registry record · serial 5-772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BEING FERRIED X-COUNTRY IN LEGS OF APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS FLT DURATION. THE ACFT WAS REFUELED FOR THE NEXT LEGAND IT NEEDED 18 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PLT WAS PREDICTING A BURN OF 5-6 GALLONS OF FUEL PER HOUR. AFTER A FLT OF 2 HRS AND 17 MINUTES WITH DESTINATION IN SIGHT THE ACFT ENGINE QUIT. THE ACFT WAS FORCED TO LAND OFF ARPT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT BY FAA AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHOWED NO FUEL ABOARD THE ACFT. NO DISCREPANCIES OF EQUIPMENT WERE FOUND. THERE WAS A SIGHT FUEL GAGE AVAILABLE FOR THE PLTS USE TO MONITOR FUEL USAGE. THE ACFT TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY IS 19 GALLONS. THERE WERE ARPTS IN THE LINE OF FLT WHERE AN EN ROUTE STOP FOR FUEL COULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
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: 646 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1984; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPH Springhill LA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: 6MO Hazen AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from LIT, 31 miles away
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.