Piper PA-28-160 accident near Beedeville, Arkansas, July 2, 1988
On July 2, 1988 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5517W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beedeville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INTENTIONAL BUZZING PERFORMED, VISUAL OUTLOOK NOT MAINTAINED AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1988 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Beedeville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5517W · no longer on the register · serial 28-606
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE INTENTIONALLY BUZZING AN ACQUAINTANCE'S RURAL RESIDENCE, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES, SHEARING THE RIGHT WING, THEN DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO THE TERRAIN. NO ABNORMALITIES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1987; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Newport AR at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from JBR, 30 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.