Cessna 140 accident near Coy, Arkansas, December 21, 1985
On December 21, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N3587V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coy, Arkansas (Bennett airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- December 21, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coy, Arkansas · Bennett · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N3587V · registry record · serial 14855
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTS THAT THE ENGINE OF N3587V WAS RUN AT IDLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME BEFORE THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED.AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE ENGINE DIED. IT WAS RESTARTED AND THE TAKEOFF WAS COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL BUT THE ROLL WAS CONTINUED. THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO NEAR TAKEOFF SPEED BUT WHEN LIFT OFF WAS ATTEMPTED THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT FLY. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT AND DURING THE ABORT THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED SOFT TERRAIN BESIDE THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ALL SPARK PLUGS HAD CARBON DEPOSITS AND THE TOP PLUG ON ONE CYLINDER HAD A BENT GROUND ELECTRODE THAT WAS CONTACTING THE CENTER ELECTRODE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING ON AUTO FUEL BUT WAS NOT MODIFIED FOR USE OF THE FUEL.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,714 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1985; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from PBF, 17 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.
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.