Alon AIRCOUPE accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas, October 1, 1989
On October 1, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Alon AIRCOUPE, registered CGODM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF PERFORMANCE DATA WHICH RESULTED IN THE INABILITY TO GAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greers Ferry, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon AIRCOUPE
- Registration
- CGODM · no longer on the register · serial A213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A PASTURE FARM FIELD OF ABOUT 1200 FEET IN LENGTH. HE BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ABOUT 950 FEET, ATTAINED ABOUT 30 FEET OF ALTITUDE, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ONCE, BOUNCED, THEN LIFTED OFF AGAIN, FOLLOWED BY A VIOLENT DESCENT. THE ACFT STRUCK A LAND FILL THEN CAREENED INTO SOME METAL BARN TRUSSES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY.
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: 340 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HBZ Heber Springs AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Observation at 2:48 pm from LIT, 50 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.