Beech B95 accident near Mena, Arkansas, April 19, 1985
On April 19, 1985 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Beech B95, registered N95UP, was destroyed in an accident near Mena, Arkansas (Intermtn. Reginal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- April 19, 1985 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mena, Arkansas · Intermtn. Reginal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B95 · all B95s on the register
- Registration
- N95UP · registry record · serial TD451
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N95UP WAS MAKING THE FIRST FLT AFTER BOTH ENGINES WERE OVERHAULED. THE OWNER OF THE OVERHAUL FACILITY WAS THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER WAS THE FOREMAN WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING ENGINES. A WITNESS WHO IS EMPLOYED ON THE AIRPORT HEARDTHE ACFT TAKEOFF AND SAID THE ENGINES DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. HE FOLLOWED THE SOUND OF THE ACFT AND THEN SAW IT NE OF THE AIRPORT HEADING TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE N/S RWY, THE ONLY RWY AVAILABLE. THE ACFT WAS AT LOW ALT WITH THE LEFT PROP FEATHERED AND LANDING GEAR DOWN. WHEN THE ACFT WAS 1/4 MI FROM RWY IT HIT A 50 FT TALL PINE TREE, ROLLED INVERTED AND CRASHED. VMC WITH STRONG, GUSTY SURFACE WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACDT. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE SINGLE ENGINE RATE OF CLIMB WITH GEAR UP AND PROP FEATHERED AT 2500 FT PRESSURE ALT FOR A 3500# ACFT IS &320 FT/MIN. FOR WINDMILLING PROP AND GEAR DOWN CONFIGURATION THE RATE OF CLIMB IS -230 FT/MIN. EXAM OF THE ACFT AND LEFT ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Blue Diamond Industries
The flight
- Departed from: M39 at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.