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20031215034349A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Beech H35 · Mena, AR · December 15, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
December 15, 2003 · 12:30 local
Place
Mena, AR
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N7929D
NTSB investigation
NTSBFTW04FA044
Reported as
Beech H35
Reported engine
Continental O470*
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
1
Pilot’s flight hours
2,802 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days
N7929DRegistration cancelled Oct 20, 2004 · Beech H35S/N D-5168 · Built 1957Airframe modelBeech H35Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On December 15, 2003, approximately 1234 CST, Beech H35, N7929D, was destroyed upon collision with terrain while on a visual approach to the Mena intermountain municipal airport (M39), near Mena, Arkansas. The instrument-rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by read associates inc., of owasso, Oklahoma, for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 flight. A weather brief was received for the 129 nautical mile cross-country flight, but a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from gundy's airport (O38), near owasso, Oklahoma, approximately 1130 CST, with M39 as its intended destination. The 2,800-hour pilot was reported to have received VFR radar advisories from memphis center during cruise flight at 5,500 feet. The pilot reported leaving 5,500 feet for his descent to M39. Memphis center cleared the flight to switch frequency and requested the flight to squawk 1200 (VFR code), as radar services were terminated. Memphis center continued to monitor the flight on radar until radar contact was lost.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON DECEMBER 15, 2003, APPROXIMATELY 1234 CST, BEECH H35, N7929D, WAS DESTROYED UPON COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WHILE ON A VISUAL APPROACH TO THE MENA INTERMOUNTAIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (M39), NEAR MENA, ARKANSAS. THE INSTRUMENT-RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY READ ASSOCIATES INC., OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 FLIGHT. A WEATHER BRIEF WAS RECEIVED FOR THE 129 NAUTICAL MILE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, BUT A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM GUNDY'S AIRPORT (O38), NEAR OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, APPROXIMATELY 1130 CST, WITH M39 AS ITS INTENDED DESTINATION. THE 2,800-HOUR PILOT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE RECEIVED VFR RADAR ADVISORIES FROM MEMPHIS CENTER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 5,500 FEET. THE PILOT REPORTED LEAVING 5,500 FEET FOR HIS DESCENT TO M39. MEMPHIS CENTER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO SWITCH FREQUENCY AND REQUESTED THE FLIGHT TO SQUAWK 1200 (VFR CODE), AS RADAR SERVICES WERE TERMINATED. MEMPHIS CENTER CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE FLIGHT ON RADAR UNTIL RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW04FA044Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMena, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, fog, clouds, and turbulence.Dec 15, 2003 · Destroyed

Other reports on N7929D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19780101000039INormal Cruise · Brunswick, GAAircraft operated in IFR conditions without a clearance.Jan 1, 1978 · Reported as Beech B35