Piper PA-28-140 N4344J

Summary

On 8 October 2002 at about 23:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N4344J was involved in an accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2002 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeview, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Gastons Airport (3M0)

Coordinates

36.3486, -92.5569

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N4344J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeview → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW03FA008

3 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain while maneuvering.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single-engine airplane impacted a vertical bluff while maneuvering shortly after takeoff from a grass runway. The flight instructor, a private pilot, and a student flew to the airport, ate dinner, and departed just before nightfall because the runway did not utilize runway lights. Numerous witnesses reported the airplane did not accelerate normally during the takeoff roll, and it took nearly all of the 3,200-foot turf runway to liftoff. The witnesses then described a slow, nose-high climb. The airplane flew to the east along a river before turning to left prior to encountering power lines. The airplane impacted the bluff, and erupted in flames. A post-accident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented their normal operation. The flap handle was found selected to 25 degrees. People familiar with the airport indicated that the best way to depart the airport area was to fly along a valley that veered toward the northeast instead of flying along the river as the accident flight did. The river is in line with steep bluffs and is crossed by a power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.