# Accident 20031215034349A: Beech H35, Mena, AR, December 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2003, 12:30 local time
- Place: Mena, AR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7208° N, 94.3867° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7208&lon=-94.3867&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7929D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7929D-2004-10-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech H35 (registry code 1151520, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H35
- Reported engine: CONT O470*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,802 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031215034349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW04FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA044), Dec 15, 2003: Beech H-35 (N7929D), Mena, AR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, fog, clouds, and turbulence.

## Other reports on N7929D (1)

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

- [Incident 19780101000039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780101000039I), Jan 1, 1978: Beech B35 (N7929D), Brunswick, GA. Aircraft operated in IFR conditions without a clearance.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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