Beech H-35 accident near Mena, AR
On December 15, 2003, a Beech H-35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mena, AR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 15, 2003
- Place
- Mena, AR
- Aircraft
- Beech H-35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.721°N, 94.387°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031219X02071
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 15, 2003, approximately 1234 central standard time, a Beech H-35 single-engine airplane, N7929D, was destroyed upon collision with terrain while on a visual approach to the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport (M39), near Mena, Arkansas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Read Associates, Inc., of Owasso, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 129-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from Gundy's Airport (O38), near Owasso, Oklahoma, approximately 1130, with M39 as its intended destination. According to data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot climbed to an altitude of 5,600 feet, and while in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, requested and obtained traffic advisories from Memphis Air Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). At 1228, the pilot initiated a visual approach to M39. The last radar contact was established at 1232, and the pilot was cleared to the UNICOM frequency and was requested to squawk code 1200. At 1232, the last radar position revealed the airplane was at an altitude of 3,100 feet, descending at a ground speed of 116 knots. The position of the airplane at that time was 11 nautical miles northeast of M39. The wife of the pilot was at M39 waiting for the airplane. The pilot's wife became concerned and reported the missing airplane to local authorities. According to the pilot's wife, he flew to M39 f
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, fog, clouds, and turbulence.
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Browse: Arkansas · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
