Beech E33 accident near Little Rock, Arkansas, December 21, 1982
On December 21, 1982 at about 9:22 pm local time, a Beech E33, registered N7873R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Little Rock, Arkansas (Adams Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1982 · about 9:22 pm local time
- Place
- Little Rock, Arkansas · Adams Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E33 · all E33s on the register
- Registration
- N7873R · registry record · serial CD-1207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, ALL THREE OF THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED AS THE PILOT WAS APPLYING BRAKES TO TURN OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION WITH THE CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED. THE FLAPS WERE ALSO FOUND IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION. MOST OF THE PILOT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS IN CESSNA AIRCRAFT THAT HAD THE FLAP HANDLE LOCATED IN THE APPROXIMATE POSITION OF THIS BEECH AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR HANDLE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE ACTIVATED THE WRONG SWITCH. HE HAD ONLY 6 HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
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
- Flight time: 956 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,965 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Destination: Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,125 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from LIT
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.