Beech BE-35 accident near Stephenville, Texas, May 20, 2002
On May 20, 2002 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Beech BE-35, registered N3157V, was destroyed in an accident near Stephenville, Texas (Clark Field Muni). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control and adequate airspeed, resulting in the inadvertent stall/spin. A contributing factor was the low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2002 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Stephenville, Texas · Clark Field Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35
- Registration
- N3157V · no longer on the register · serial D-587
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that they heard the pilot over the UNICOM report base and observed the landing gear and flaps in the down position. The witnesses observed the left wing "drop" and the aircraft nose over to what appeared to be a 90-degree angle. According to one of the witnesses, the airplane was approximately 400-500 feet AGL when the "aircraft went vertical." Another witness observed the aircraft at a low altitude and reported that the speed "appeared to be slow" until just as the aircraft went over "front" first, dipping towards the right wing and then nosed down. A review of the maintenance records indicated no evidence of any uncorrected maintenance discrepancies.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 420 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,215.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2000; 163 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEP Stephenville TX at 2:45 pm
- Destination: SEP Stephenville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 118°F (48°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MWL, 34 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.