Beech V35A accident near Leslie, Arkansas, June 17, 2002
On June 17, 2002 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Beech V35A, registered N800MD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leslie, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2002 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Leslie, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N800MD · registry record · serial D8630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, there was a loss of engine power. The pilot selected a different fuel tank and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. The engine restarted and ran for approximately 2 minutes before there was a total loss of engine power. The pilot diverted the flight toward the nearest airport. The airplane landed short of the airport in a rough and uneven field. Fuel samples, from the main fuel tanks, were blue in color, and no debris was noted in the fuel. There was physical evidence of fuel on the vegetation along the energy path and in the vicinity of the main wreckage. Post-accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded operation of the engine 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,850 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,167.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2002; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA(2) (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Investment Company
The flight
- Departed from: BPK Mountain Home AR at 1:40 pm
- Destination: LIT Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from LIT, 60 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.