Beech H-35 accident near Mena, Arkansas, December 15, 2003
On December 15, 2003 at about 6:34 pm local time, a Beech H-35, registered N7929D, was destroyed in an accident near Mena, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, fog, clouds, and turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2003 · about 6:34 pm local time
- Place
- Mena, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H-35 · all H-35s on the register
- Registration
- N7929D · no longer on the register · serial D-5158
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain, at the 2,061-foot level of the 2,601-foot mountain, while on a visual approach to the airport. The 3,241-hour airline transport rated pilot climbed to an altitude of 5,600 AGL and while in VFR conditions, requested and obtained traffic advisories from ARTCC. Approximately 1228, the pilot initiated a visual approach to M39. The last radar contact was established at 1232, and the pilot was cleared to the UNICOM frequency and requested to squawk 1200. At 1232, the last radar position revealed the airplane was at an altitude of 3,100 AGL, descending at a ground speed of 116 knots. The position of the airplane at that time was 11 nautical miles northeast of M39. A pilot, who was flying into the airport approximately the same time as the accident, stated that the weather was overcast and solid with a low ceiling. While on a VFR approach into the airport, he had to descend below 2,000 feet. Once he descended, there was fog. The pilot flew northeast in order to clear the mountains, and then flew through a valley. He stated that he experienced severe turbulence while flying through the valley. Once the pilot landed, he reported that the ceiling was at 1,500 feet and foggy; however, the weather report indicated clear skies.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,241 hours in all; 3,065 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,513.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-G-CI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O38 Owasso OK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: M39 Mena AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MWT, 40 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.