Cessna 337B accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, November 13, 1985
On November 13, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 337B, registered N5445S, was destroyed in an accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- November 13, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337B · all 337Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5445S · no longer on the register · serial 337-0545
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND HIS WIFE WERE FLYING TO ALASKA WITH THE FIRST EN ROUTE STOP TO BE CANTON, TX. THE NON-PLT WIFE STATED THAT AS THE ACFT PASSED OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY ON TAKEOFF, HER HUSBAND RELEASED THE CONTROLS AND THREW HIS HEAD BACK. SHE KEPT THE ACFT AIRBORNE FOR ALMOST TWO HRS WITH HELP FROM AN AIRBORNE PLT THAT WAS TALKING TO HER. BOTH ENGS QUIT FROM FUEL STARVATION AND SHE MADE A FORCED LANDING THREE MILES FROM THE FAYETTEVILLE, AR ARPT. SHE LATER STATED THAT SHE FELT THAT HER HUSBAND HAD DIED JUST AFTER TAKEOFF.
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: 3,812 hours in all; 3,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,997 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1985; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C/D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOO Bentonville AR at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 7F5 Canton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:08 pm from FYV, 3 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.