Cessna 414A accident near Mena, Arkansas, February 15, 1984
On February 15, 1984 at about 10:56 pm local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N6815Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mena, Arkansas (Mena Intermountain Reg. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- February 15, 1984 · about 10:56 pm local time
- Place
- Mena, Arkansas · Mena Intermountain Reg. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N6815Z · no longer on the register · serial 414A0648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT CLEARED FOR MENA NDB APCH AND TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT MSL UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH. ACFT DESCENDED TO 4800 FT MSL ON APRX GRND TRACK OF 040 TO 030 DEG AFTER NDB PASSAGE. ACFT THEN TURNED TO A GROUND TRACK OF 116 DEG. AFTER 12 SECONDS THE ACFT TURNED TO A GROUND TRACK OF 350 DEG DURING WHICH THE GROUND SPEED DECREASED TO 93 KTS. THE ACFT DESCENDED TO 4600 FT MSL WITH GROUND SPEED INCREASING TO 140 KTS. N68152 REPORTED 'WE'VE BROKEN BELOW - WILL CANCEL IN JUST A MOMENT.' RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT DESCENDING TO 3000 FT MSL ON A HEADING OF 304 DEG. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 6 MILES NW OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 2000 FT MSL. THE OUTBOUND APCH HEADING IS 080 DEG WITH PROCEDURE TURN HEADING OF 125 DEG AND 305 DEG. REPORTED WINDS ALOFT AT 5000 FT MSL, 4000 FT MSL AND 3000 FT MSL WERE 191 DEG AT 34 KTS, 169 DEG AT 30 KTS AND 151 DEG AT 32 KTS RESPECTIVELY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,100 hours in all; 27 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 411 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1983; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: M39 Mena AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 00, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from FTS, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.