# NTSB FTW99LA126: Beech J35, N735B, Bass, AR, April 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 1999, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Bass, AR - Location: 35.9042° N, 92.9980° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bass, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9042&lon=-92.9980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft directional control during landing roll on a gravel road. Factors were the clouds and low ceilings, the low fuel status, and the gravel road condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - Miscellaneous/other, emergency descent/landing - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence ## Analysis Prior to departing Bogalusa, Louisiana, the pilot obtained a 'weather briefing from the Pan Am weather system. The pilot reported that while en route to Springfield, Missouri, he encountered broken and solid clouds below his cruise altitude of 6,500 feet msl. When he arrived at Springfield, the clouds below were solid, and the ATIS was reporting 500 foot ceilings. The pilot turned 180 degrees to return to an area of 'broken overcast to land and refuel.' The pilot then elected to perform a precautionary landing to a county road because 'he was getting low on fuel and the weather conditions were deteriorating.' The touchdown and rollout on the gravel road were uneventful; however, the road curved to the left, and the airplane continued straight colliding with a fence. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 1999, at 1130 central daylight time, a Beech J35 airplane, N735B, was substantially damaged during a collision with a fence while making a precautionary landing near Bass, Arkansas. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight, for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the George R. Carr Memorial Air Field Airport, Bogalusa, Louisiana, at 0700, with the destination of the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport near Springfield, Missouri. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that prior to departing Bogalusa, he obtained a "weather briefing from the Pan Am weather system." He further reported that while en route to Springfield he encountered broken and solid clouds below his cruise altitude of 6,500 feet msl. When the flight arrived at Springfield, the clouds below were solid, and the Springfield ATIS was reporting 500 foot ceilings. The pilot also reported that he turned 180 degrees to return to an area of "broken overcast to land and refuel." With "fuel very low, he descended through a hole in the overcast to make a precautionary landing." The pilot reported to local authorities that he elected to perform a precautionary landing to Country Road (CR) 37 because "he was getting low on fuel and the weather conditions were deteriorating." He further stated that the touchdown and rollout on the road were uneventful; however, the road curved to the left and the airplane continued straight colliding with a fence. The airplane came to rest in an open field on the east side of the road. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated that CR 37 is a "two lane crushed limestone road with an elevated road base, which runs through a mountain valley." The FAA inspector further stated that aircraft touched down on CR 37, and rolled out to the north for about 800 feet, at which point, the road turns to the left about 25 degrees. The airplane was unable to negotiate the turn on the loose gravel and slid off the right side of the road. The airplane went through a barbed wire fence and came to a stop 250 feet from the turn in the road, facing the direction from which it came. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose and right main landing gear were collapsed, and the right wing sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N735B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N735B-2017-07-13), registration cancelled 2017-07-13, S/N D-5563, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech J35 - Registry model: [Beech J35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-j35) (registry code 1151522) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5563 - Airframe hours: 5281 - Engines: Continental IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles P. Owens, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: BXA, BOGALUSA, LA - Destination: SGF, SPRINGFIELD, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,401 total, 57 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HRO, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990429045619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990429045619A), Apr 29, 1999: Beech J35, Bass, AR, No damage. (-23)Upon arrival at spingfield, MO, on a flight from bagalusa, LA, the pilot determined that the weather was IMC. The pilot reversed course and returned to NM… ## Other investigations on N735B (2) 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 DEN69D0017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0017), Jun 16, 1968: Beech J35 (N735B), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX67D0220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0220), Nov 24, 1966: Beech J35 (N735B), Goleta, CA, no damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.