Beechcraft A23 N3520R
17 March 1990 · Fordyce, Arkansas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 March 1990 at about 16:50 local time, a Beechcraft A23 registered N3520R, operated by Johnston, William D., was involved in an accident near Fordyce, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fordyce, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.8099, -92.4109
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft A23
- Registration
- N3520R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Johnston, William D.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Abilene → Holly Springs
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC90LA066
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PASSENGER'S INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT BY SEIZING THE CONTROLS AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT, FATHER OF THE PASSENGER, A MANIC DEPRESSANT, SAID THAT HIS 29 YEAR OLD SON SEIZED THE CONTROLS WHILE CRUISING AT 5500 MSL, AND ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE AIRCRAFT DOWN INTO A LAKE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO OVERPOWER HIS SON AND RECOVERED AT ABOUT 3500 FT MSL. THEN, HIS SON SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE IGNITION KEYS AND THREW THE KEYS OUT THE WINDOW. ONCE AGAIN, THE SON ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OVER THE CONTROLS AND SUCCEEDED IN PUTTING THE AIRCRAFT INTO A SPIN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEARING A STALL AND HE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE ACFT BETWEEN TWO TALL TREES. THE ACFT CUT ONE TREE OFF AND UP ROOTED THE OTHER. THIS RESULTED IN THE ACFT LOSING MOST OF ITS FORWARD SPEED AND IT FELL TO THE GROUND FROM ABOUT 30 FEET AGL. THE PILOT AND PAX SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PAX WAS PLACE IN A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft A23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 1990 | Beechcraft A23-19 | Apple Valley, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Mar 1990 | Beechcraft A23-24 | Greenfield, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1990 | Beechcraft A23 | Tecumseh, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft A23-24 | Tomball, Texas, United States | Horizon Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1989 | Beechcraft A23-19 | Gallatin, Tennessee, United States | Shirley Brown | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1989 | Beechcraft A23-19 | Hertford, North Carolina, United States | Davis, Richard L. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mar 1990 | Volksplane WE-1 | Wooster, Arkansas, United States | Richard L. Schorey | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1990 | Aero Commander S-2R | Alicia, Arkansas, United States | Terry Robinett | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Piper PA32RT-300 | Mansfield, Arkansas, United States | JOE A. Hayes | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Apr 1990 | Beechcraft J-35 | Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 1990 | Piper PA-24 | West Fork, Arkansas, United States | Fisher Glenn D. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1990 | Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18 | Carlisle, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |