Beech 77 accident near Arkadelphia, Arkansas, October 15, 1990
On October 15, 1990, a Beech 77, registered N38021, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arkadelphia, Arkansas (Arkadelphia airport). 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
FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL SYSTEM VENT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND CONTACTING HIGH VEGETATION AND LOW TREES DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1990
- Place
- Arkadelphia, Arkansas · Arkadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N38021 · no longer on the register · serial WA205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN TO AN AIRPORT WITH AVAILABLE FUEL WHEN ON FINAL APPROACH, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FIELD WITH HIGH VEGETATION AND LOW TREES. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT AN INSECT'S MUD NEST WAS OBSTRUCTING THE LEFT FUEL TANK VENT.
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: 95 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,163 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 1990; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: M78 Malvern AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.