November 17, 2011, Perryville, Ark., Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee 180

At about 1610 Central time, the airplane impacted the ground. The flight instructor pilot and three passengers were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. Radar data showed the airplane level at 7000 feet msl on a southeasterly heading. At 1610:49, the airplane entered a right turn and began descending. The airplane disappeared from radar shortly thereafter.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane crash at 1610 Central time resulted in four fatalities (flight instructor and three passengers) and substantial damage to the aircraft.
Radar data showed the airplane, initially level at 7000 feet, entered a right turn and began descending steeply before disappearing from radar.
The airplane impacted the ground in a steep nose-low attitude, consistent with ground scars and witness marks, and no ATC communications were reported.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Radar data showed the airplane level at 7000 feet msl on a southeasterly heading. At 1610:49, the airplane entered a right turn and began descending. The airplane disappeared from radar shortly thereafter. There were no reported ATC communications with 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.