Beech A23 accident near Conway, Arkansas, December 7, 1996
On December 7, 1996 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N3597R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conway, Arkansas (Dennis F. Cantrell 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during the landing, and his failure to remain clear of the tree during the attempted go-around. The crosswind and the proximity of the small tree were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1996 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, Arkansas · Dennis F. Cantrell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N3597R · no longer on the register · serial M-778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 18, when a 'right crosswind gust lifted his right wing.' The airplane 'was pushed to the left side of the runway,' and the pilot attempted a go-around. He stated that his airplane then impacted a small tree and 'he pulled up and stalled the plane.' The airplane came to rest in a group of small trees and underbrush with the right wing resting on a chain link fence.
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: 150 hours in all; 90 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,810 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M07 at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,278 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from LIT, 20 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.