Cessna 172 accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, June 4, 1988
On June 4, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N75540, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeview, Arkansas (Gastons airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- June 4, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · Gastons · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N75540 · registry record · serial 17267795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND CROSSWIND ON A 'ONE WAY' RUNWAY, THE PLT SAID A GUST OF WIND BLEW HIM TOWARDS SOME BORDERING TREES, SO HE MADE A DECISION TO 'GO AROUND'. THE PLT SAID HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND RAISED THE FLAPS FROM THE FULL FLAP SETTING, AND SHORTLY AFTER, LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT STALLED, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER.
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: 128 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,021 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1988; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 4:50 pm
- Destination: 3M0 Lakeview AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from HRO, 20 miles away
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.