Four People Fatally Injured When The Plane Went Down In Rural Arkansas

The NTSB has released its preliminary report in an accident which fatally injured the Oklahoma State women's head basketball coach and one of his assistants, as well as a former Oklahoma state senator and his wife. As is often the case with these reports, there are few details from which anything solid can be gleaned. What is known is that the weather was VFR, winds were light, and there was no communication from the aircraft as it entered a descending right turn and disappeared from radar. A probable cause report is months or more away.

PA-28-180 File Photo

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA072
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, November 17, 2011 in Perryville, AR
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-180, registration: N7746W
Injuries: 4 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On November 17, 2011, about 1610 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7746W, impacted the ground near Perryville, Arkansas. The certificated flight instructor pilot and three passengers were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO), Stillwater, Oklahoma, about 1415 and was destined for North Little Rock Municipal Airport (ORK), North Little Rock, Arkansas.
 
Employees at SWO reported that the airplane landed approximately 1345, picked up two passengers, and departed for ORK. The airplane did not receive any services at SWO.
 
Radar data showed the airplane level at 7,000 feet mean sea level on a southeasterly heading. At 1610:49, the airplane entered a right turn and began descending. The airplane disappeared from radar shortly after. There were no reported air traffic control communications with the airplane.
 
Witnesses who were in the vicinity of the accident site reported that the airplane was flying at a low altitude and making turns. They then observed the airplane enter a steep nose-low attitude prior to descending toward the terrain.

The accident site was located in a heavily wooded area of the Ouachita National Forest, about 8 miles southeast of Perryville. The initial ground impact scar was consistent with the airplane’s right wing leading edge contacting the ground first. An impact crater, about 10 feet in diameter and about 3.5 feet deep contained most of the airplane. Ground scars and witness marks to trees surrounding the accident site were consistent with the airplane being in a steep nose-low attitude at the time of impact.
 
The airplane wreckage was transported to a secure location for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov