Beechcraft 35 accident near Star City, Arkansas, July 30, 2022
On July 30, 2022 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1947 Beechcraft 35, registered N3260V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Star City, Arkansas (Star City Muni 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2022 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Star City, Arkansas · Star City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 35, built 1947 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3260V · no longer on the register · serial D707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taking off from a short field when he realized the airplane was not achieving enough speed for takeoff. About two-thirds down the runway he aborted the takeoff. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, struck a ditch, and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 896 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 824 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental E-185 (piston); 7,105 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KPBF, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPBF 301953Z AUTO 34007KT 10SM FEW037 32/24 A3005 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND SW SLP172 T03170244 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Report Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.