Ryan ST3KR accident near Springdale, Arkansas, September 3, 1987
On September 3, 1987 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Ryan ST3KR, registered N3761Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Springdale Muni airport). It was a personal 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
- September 3, 1987 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Springdale Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3KR
- Registration
- N3761Q · no longer on the register · serial 1404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER, RECOVERED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN WENT TO IDLE. DRG THE FEW SECONDS THAT POWER WAS RESTORED, HE INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE RWY. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT STARTED TO SNAP ROLL TO THE LEFT & WENT TO ABOUT A 90 DEG BANK. HE RECOVERED AT ABOUT 150' AGL & KEPT THE WINGS LEVEL, BUT THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS VERIFIED.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 1,830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,302 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.