Beech F33A accident near West Memphis, Arkansas, January 11, 1986
On January 11, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N20537, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Memphis, Arkansas (West Memphis airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- West Memphis, Arkansas · West Memphis · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N20537 · registry record · serial CE-831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE GROUND AFTER STRIKING TREES DURING A FORCED LNDG. THE ACFT HAD EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER DURING CRUISE AFTER 4 AND 1/2 HRS OF FLT. POST ACC INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE RT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY OF FUEL AND THE LEFT MAIN HAD AN EST 10 GALLONS IN IT. WHEN QUESTIONED THE PLT COULD NOT REMEMBER WHICH TANK HE SELECTED BUT SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FULLEST. THE SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT TANK POSITION.
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: 621 hours in all; 406 in this make and model; 342 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 1985; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLR Clearwater FL
- Destination: IXD Kansas City KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from LIT, 130 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N20537 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft F33 Bonanza 1,009 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- West Memphis Municipal · nearest airport
- Cliff Hatfield Memorial · departed from
- New Century Aircenter Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Arkansas 1,582 since 1982 · 177 in the last ten years
- Arkansas 3,494 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MKC86FPG01.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.