Beech BE-35 accident near Springdale, Arkansas, June 9, 2001
On June 9, 2001 at about 2:59 pm local time, a Beech BE-35, registered N2963V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Springdale Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2001 · about 2:59 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Springdale Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35
- Registration
- N2963V · no longer on the register · serial D-358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine airplane struck wires and the terrain following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. Witness descriptions were: "lost altitude after takeoff, flying very low, struggling, low airspeed, low rpm's, yawing to gain altitude, struggling for power, not enough forward speed to sustain flight, and yawing just above a stall." Witness descriptions of the engine were: "sounded very flat, having trouble getting full revs, and cutting out." Witnesses observed the airplane turn left "sharply, waver, swerve back and forth, strike a power line, dive down, gain altitude, and strike the second power line." Subsequently, the witnesses observed the airplane impact the ground with the left wing and spin around about 80 degrees before coming to rest. Local authorities reported that the left fuel tank was empty, the right fuel tank was full, and fuel was leaking from the aircraft. Local authorities turned off switches in the cockpit and de-activated the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). Airport personnel reported that the fuel tanks were topped the day before the accident, with 10.3 gallons, and the accident flight was the first known flight since that refueling. The FAA inspector reported "no usable fuel found in the left wing tank. No fuel found on ground under the left wing. No dead grass. No stained grass. No strong odor of fuel." The inspector reported the fuel selector had the "left tank selected." The right wing tank was full. The airframe and engine representative confirmed the integrity of the left wing fuel tank and fuel line continuity from the three fuel tanks to the fuel selector valve. The auxiliary fuel tank was full of fuel. The fuel pump was rotated and a few drops of fuel were found in the fuel pump lines. No anomalies were found that would have prevented fuel flow through the fuel system. The pilot does not have any memory of the events before or after the accident. The initial on scene response of local authorities, airport personnel, and other numerous individuals, precluded a determination of the cockpit switch positions, the fuel selector position, and the amount of fuel on board prior to the accident.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,808.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2000; 46.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASG Springdale AR at 2:55 pm
- Destination: MOR Morristown TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,302 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:10 pm from ASG, 1 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.