Beech C23 accident near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, December 29, 2005
On December 29, 2005 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N2251L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka Springs, Arkansas (Silver Wings Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing and his delay in aborting the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 2005 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka Springs, Arkansas · Silver Wings Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N2251L · no longer on the register · serial M-1896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 304-hour private pilot reported the single-engine airplane began to swerve back and forth during the landing roll on runway 34. The pilot elected to abort the landing; however, during the takeoff roll the pilot realized he did not have sufficient airspeed for lift-off. The tricycle-gear-equipped airplane overran the departure end of the 1,900-foot long by 65-feet wide grass runway. The airplane continued down an embankment. The winds were reported as light and variable at the time of the accident. The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 46 hours in the same make and model of airplane. The pilot also reported that the accident could have been prevented by more training in short field landings in this make and model aircraft. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,199 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M9 Warren AR at 9:12 pm
- Destination: 5A5 Eureka Springs TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,900 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 8:25 pm from HRO, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.