- Date
- August 5, 1992, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Leslie, AR
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N617DBeech C35
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920805029069A
- Case key
- 18369
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot attempted VFR flight into IMC. Factors were fog, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The non instrument rated pilot had received an FAA outlook briefing for the destination area prior to his departure. He was briefed about the stationary front and forecasted rain showers throughout the area for the entire day. He was advised to request an update forecast briefing later in the day. Investigation did not reveal any additional briefings. Surface weather reports throughout the area indicated overcast ceilings and reduced visibility due to fog at the time of the accident. A witness reported observing the airplane flying in and out of the fog near the mountains and then flying into the fog bank below the top of the mountain. The witness reported the accident and assisted in locating the site.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N617D
- Reported as
- Beech C35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2875
- Airframe hours
- 3,591
- Engine
- Continental E-185-11, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ordway, Dustin P.
- Registered owner
- Ordway, Dustin P.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 18, 1992 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- TVC · Traverse City, MI
- Destination
- M03 · Conway, AR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 930 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.