Cessna 152 accident near Hughes, Arkansas, November 4, 1985
On November 4, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68414, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hughes, Arkansas. It was an instructional 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 4, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hughes, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68414 · registry record · serial 15282288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TRAINING FLT PROGRESSED NORMALLY UNTIL A LOSS OF PWR FORCED THE STUDENT PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING TO A PLOWED FIELD SHORT OF THERI DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE SUBSEQUENT LANDING SUBSTAINTIALLY DAMAGED THEIR AIRCRAFT. AN ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE 2554 HOUR ENGINE SUSTAINED A FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER ROD CAP BOLT. THE ROD BOLT DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PRE-EXISTING CRAC KS. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED 32 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE DURING AN ANNUAL INSP. THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED TIME BETWEEN OVERHAUL WAS EXCEEDED BY 554 HOURS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,554 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LIT Little Rock AR at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MEM Memphis TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from MEM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N68414 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.