Piper PA-28-140 accident near Waldron, Arkansas, July 10, 1987
On July 10, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5921U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waldron, Arkansas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 10, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waldron, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5921U · no longer on the register · serial 2826900
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FOR HIS COMMERICAL CERT. HE CHECKED ENROUTE WX FOR THE RETURN TRIP AND WAS TOLD VMC PREVAILED. HOWEVER HE RPTD THAT HE ENCOUNTERED HAZE & CLOUDS. HE LET DOWN TO VMC BUT AFTER HE GOT IN THE CLEAR ALL HE COULD SEE WAS MOUNTAINS AND A FIELD HE THOUGHT HE COULD LAND ON. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE FIELD BUT DURING THE LANDING THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND A FENCE.
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: 112 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,428 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 12, 1986; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Air Associates
The flight
- Departed from: ELD El Dorado AR
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from FSM, 40 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.