Beech S35 accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas, December 27, 1984
On December 27, 1984 at about 11:21 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N69WF, was destroyed in an accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas (Hot Springs Mem. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- December 27, 1984 · about 11:21 pm local time
- Place
- Hot Springs, Arkansas · Hot Springs Mem. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N69WF · no longer on the register · serial D-7771
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED ON THE EAST SIDE OF WEST MOUNTAIN AFTER THE PLT HAD MADE AN ILS RWY 5 APCH & OVERFLEW THE ARPT. THE LAST WX OBSERVATION BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WAS: PARTIAL OBSCURATION, CEILING 300 FT, VISIBILITY 1 MI. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE APCH WAS 200 FT & THE VISIBILITY MINIMUM WAS 1/2 MI. THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE READ, 'CLIMB TO 1100 FT THEN CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO 2500 VIA HOT R-123 TO SOCKS INT & HOLD.' THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LEFT OF OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 5, 4 MI NORTHEAST OF THE MISSED APCH POINT. THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES WHILE IN LEVEL FLT AT 900 FT MSL & WHILE TRACKING ON A HEADING OF 270 DEG. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 540 FT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CID Cedar Rapids IA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: HOT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 6,595 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from HOT, 3 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.