Piper PA-31P accident near El Dorado, Arkansas, February 26, 1984
On February 26, 1984 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-31P, registered N33BP, was destroyed in an accident near El Dorado, Arkansas (Goodwin airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 26, 1984 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Dorado, Arkansas · Goodwin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · all PA-31Ps on the register
- Registration
- N33BP · registry record · serial 31P7400197
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES 2 MILES SHORT OF THE RWY DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH IN IMC WEATHER. A PLT IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT SAID THAT JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING AT 2500 FPM, & WHEN HE LOOKED AHEAD, HE SAW TREES. HESAID HE YELLED AT THE PLT TO 'PULL UP' BUT THE PLT DID NOT REACT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,328 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MEM Memphis TN at 7:08 pm
- Destination: 3F4 Vivian LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Sky: not recorded at 400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from ELD, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.