Beech C24R accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 4, 1992
On October 4, 1992 at about 3:56 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N6636Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas (Drake Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAYED FLARE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE DOOR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1992 · about 3:56 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, Arkansas · Drake Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6636Y · no longer on the register · serial MC-700
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR DEPARTURE THE CABIN DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAME OPEN SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN THE LEFT SEAT WHEN THE DOOR CAME OPEN. ALTITUDE ACHIEVED WHEN THE DOOR CAME OPEN WAS MAINTAINED IN A MODIFIED TRAFFIC PATTERN DURING THE RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND HARD AND COLLAPSED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
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: 183 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 119 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,848 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1992; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Proflight INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FYV at 3:56 pm
- Destination: SHV Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,006 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.