Beech J35 accident near Russellville, Arkansas, January 26, 2010
On January 26, 2010 at about 6:30 am local time, a Beech J35, registered N647T, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) not oper) near Russellville, Arkansas (Russellville Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper engine starting procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2010 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Russellville, Arkansas · Russellville Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N647T · no longer on the register · serial D-5608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to start the single-engine airplane via the electric starter but was unsuccessful. The pilot then elected to rotate the propeller by hand, to "loosen up" the engine enough to start. When the pilot rotated the propeller, the engine inadvertently started and the unoccupied airplane accelerated forward, until it impacted an open T-hangar. The accident airplane received substantial damage, the T-hangar was damaged, and a parked airplane received minor damage. The pilot added that the airplane's master switch and magnetos were not turned off, nor was the parking brake set prior to rotating the engine by hand.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during standing (engine(s) not oper)
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) not oper) defining event
- Ground collision
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 673 hours in all; 346 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2009
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bge Enterprises LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KRUE Russellville AR
- Destination: KHRO Harrison AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KRUE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN10CA110.