Piper PA-24-250 accident near Winslow, Arkansas, May 15, 1989
On May 15, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8199P, was destroyed in an accident near Winslow, Arkansas. 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 PILOT FLYING INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF A PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Winslow, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8199P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3394
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH NO INSTRUMENT RATING. HE FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. OFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION REFLECTED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DESCENDING MINUS A LARGE SECTION OF ONE WING AND IMPACTING THE GROUND IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
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: 65 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid-Con Mfg INC.
The flight
- Departed from: M18 Hope AR at 8:27 pm
- Destination: ASG Springdale AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from FYV, 36 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.