Piper PA-32R accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 20, 1987
On November 20, 1987 at about 1:36 am local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N3578G, was destroyed in an accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas (Drake airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 20, 1987 · about 1:36 am local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, Arkansas · Drake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3578G · no longer on the register · serial 32R8029038
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED TO LAND WHILE ON DOWNWIND. TOWER SAW LIGHTS AND SAID AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE FLYING AROUND HILL NORTH OF AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED AIRPLANE HAD TURNED LEFT AND IMPACTED TREES BELOW THE TOP OF THE HILL.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,479 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 22, 1987; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRT Crossett AR
- Destination: FYV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,006 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from FYV, 1 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.
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.