Beechcraft D35 N2920B

Summary

On 24 April 1995 at about 20:30 local time, a Beechcraft D35 registered N2920B was involved in an accident near McGehee, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 1995 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

McGehee, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

McGehee Municipal (7M1)

Coordinates

33.6197, -91.3891

Aircraft

Beechcraft D35

Registration

N2920B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Little Rock

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA180

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY SHUTTING DOWN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE'S OIL PRESSURE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO MCGEHEE AIRPORT, AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 18 AS ANOTHER AIRPLANE WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 36. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE INTENTIONALLY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHEN THE RUNWAY COULD BE MADE. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN TO AVOID THE AIRPLANE ON TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 18. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND 50 FEET PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 36 OBSERVED N2920B APPROACHING RUNWAY 18 BANKING 'BACK AND FORTH', ABOUT '30 DEGREES EITHER DIRECTION. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THEY WERE TOO HIGH AND FAST TO LAND.' HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT 'INITIATED A STEEP RIGHT BANK' TO THE WEST, AND THEN WAS OBSERVED MAKING A 'KNIFE EDGE BANK' TO THE EAST AT AN 'EXTREMELY LOW' ALTITUDE. NO RADIO CALL DECLARING AN EMERGENCY WAS HEARD. THE AIRPLANE'S OIL SUMP DRAIN WAS FOUND OPEN, APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE, AND THERE WAS OIL ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRPLANE. THE ENGINE'S OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED RECENTLY BY THE PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.