Beech C23 accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, July 14, 2004
On July 14, 2004 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N48DB, was destroyed in an accident near Morrilton, Arkansas (Heifer Creek Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation to assure adequate takeoff performance to clear obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2004 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morrilton, Arkansas · Heifer Creek Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N48DB · registry record · serial M-1292
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 26.000-hour airline transport pilot attempted to depart on a cross-country flight from a 2,000-turf airstrip. The airplane collided with powerlines that ran perpendicular to the departure end of the 2,000-foot grass airstrip while attempting to takeoff upslope. The grass on the turf runway was reported to be about 5-inches long on the day of the accident. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airframe. Using reported weights provided by occupants of the airplane and family members, the airplane was found to have exceeded its maximum gross weight of 2,450 pounds by 210 pounds. The air temperature reported at the time of the accident was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 2,845 feet at the time of the accident. Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies or defects that could have prevented normal flight.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 16AR Sprigfield AR at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Memphis TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from RUE, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.