Cessna 172Q accident near Hiwasse, Arkansas, October 20, 1989
On October 20, 1989 at about 6:15 am local time, a Cessna 172Q, registered N96299, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hiwasse, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND INSURE THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO MONITOR THE FUEL LEVEL DURING THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1989 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Hiwasse, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172Q · all 172Qs on the register
- Registration
- N96299 · registry record · serial 17276054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DECLARED A 'MAYDAY' DUE TO A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER 15 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON HILLY, WOODED TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL.
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: 103 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Denver CO at 2:15 am
- Destination: ROG Rogers AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Observation at 6:54 am from FYV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N96299 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.