Piper PA-22 accident near Wrightsville, Arkansas, June 22, 1986
On June 22, 1986 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N1618P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wrightsville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 22, 1986 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wrightsville, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1618P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC OF THE PA22 WAS PRACTICING DEPARTURES FM A CONFINED FIELD. THE PIC STATED THAT THE ACFT ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY, AND THAT HE HAD BEEN OPERATING FM THIS AREA FOR ABOUT THE PREVIOUS 1/2 HR. THE PIC STATED THE ENG QUIT ON CLIMBOUT FM THE PVT STRIP AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD JUST BEYOND A ROW OF TALL TREES. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL DESCREPANCY OR FAILURE OF ANY FLT CONTROL OR ENGINE COMPONENT. THE ACFT WAS STC'D FOR USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AND SUFFICIENT UNCOMTAMINATED FUEL WAS ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PIC HAD A GENEROUS AREA IN WHICH TO LAND THE ACFT, BUT IMPACTED WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO COLLAPSE THE LANDING GEAR AND LEFT WING IN A FLAT PITCH ATTITUDE ABOUT 100 FEET BEYOND THE TREE LINE.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,719 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 1,709 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wrightsville AR at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from LIT, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.