Piper PA-25-235 accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, March 3, 1987
On March 3, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N6540Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- March 3, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N6540Z · registry record · serial 252079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC WAS CLIMBING ENROUTE TO A FIELD TO SPREAD FERTILIZER. ABT 2 MINUTES INTO THE CLIMB THE ACFT ENG QUIT. THE FORCED LANDING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE ACFT. THE PIC COMMENTED IN HIS RPT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED FUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ALSO STATED IN THE REPORT THAT HE CHKD FUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE FM THE AG STRIP. THERE WAS NO REASON DISCOVERED FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-540 B3B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parker Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.