Beech BE-58 accident near Egypt, Arkansas, December 24, 2002
On December 24, 2002 at about 3:54 pm local time, a Beech BE-58, registered N5TV, was destroyed in an accident near Egypt, Arkansas (Walnut Ridge Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent flight into severe icing conditions. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2002 · about 3:54 pm local time
- Place
- Egypt, Arkansas · Walnut Ridge Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-58
- Registration
- N5TV · registry record · serial TH-193
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight for which the instrument rated commercial pilot limited his weather briefing, filed an IFR flight plan, and received an ATC clearance. Approximately 13 minutes after departure, the 1,027-hour pilot, sole occupant, reported the airplane was accumulating ice, requested and was cleared to descend the airplane from 5,000 to 4,000 feet msl. Subsequently, the pilot requested and was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet, and proceed direct to the initial approach fix for the RNAV(GPS) 36 non-precision approach for landing at an alternate airport. No distress call or additional ATC communications with the pilot were recorded. The airplane impacted trees and terrain approximately 17 nautical miles south of the airport. Tree deformation, ground scars, and craters, were consistent with a near vertical impact. The NTSB meteorological study revealed that instrument meteorological conditions with low ceilings, reduced visibility, light rain, mist, and drizzle prevailed at the departure airport and along the flight route. The low-level vertical temperature profile in the accident area was likely the following; 1 degree Celsius at the surface, minus 3 degrees at 3,000 feet, freezing level at 5,000 feet, and above freezing at 7,000-8,000 feet. SLD was likely present in the accident area at and below 5,00 feet and produced moderate to severe clear icing on the airframe in the minutes prior to the accident. The investigation revealed the airplane was equipped with alcohol propellers; however, the impact and thermal destruction precluded a determination of the operational status of the anti-ice system. Both propellers exhibited physical evidence (blade bending and twisting) consistent with high power ( at or near the low pitch range) and rotation (symmetrical energy) at impact. No evidence of an in-flight mechanical or flight control malfunction was found that would have rendered the airplane uncontrollable prior to the impact. GPS was not approved for IFR. After the accident, the RNAV(GPS) 36 approach was flight checked by the FAA, and all components were found to be operating within prescribed tolerances.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,027 hours in all; 546 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 806 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,637.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CVK Ash Flat AR at 3:21 pm
- Destination: JBR Jonesboro AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 300 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from ARG, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.