Beech 35 accident near Springdale, Arkansas, December 28, 1997
On December 28, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N2815V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel and his inadequate pre-flight planning. Factors were the pilot's disorientation due to instrument meteorological conditions. Another factor, was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to execute a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N2815V · no longer on the register · serial D216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot encountered snow and instrument meteorological conditions after departure from Malvern, Arkansas. He became lost and elected to fly toward the Springdale Airport, Springdale, Arkansas, using the Razorback VORTAC. While diverting to Springdale, the pilot informed his passengers that the aircraft was going to 'run out of gas.' Approximately 2.5 miles north of the Springdale Airport, the engine lost power. A forced landing was initiated, and during the landing roll, the aircraft went through a barbed wire fence and the right wing struck a tree. The amount of fuel onboard the aircraft prior to departing Malvern was undetermined. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the fuel tanks. Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful.
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: 270 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M78 Malvern AR at 4:50 pm
- Destination: ASG AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from FYV, 12 miles away
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.