Beech A-90 accident near West Memphis, Arkansas, April 20, 1986
On April 20, 1986 at about 3:00 am local time, a Beech A-90, registered N772K, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Memphis, Arkansas (West Memphis airport). It was a positioning 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
- April 20, 1986 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- West Memphis, Arkansas · West Memphis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-90
- Registration
- N772K · no longer on the register · serial LJ-310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A LANDING TO A RAIN SLICK RWY AT WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HYDROPLANED AND THAT BRAKING WAS NEGLIGIBLE. THE PIC'S ATTEMPTS TO USE THE REVERSERS RESULTED IN THE ACFT YAWING. WIND SHIFTS IN THE RAIN SHOWERS EXTENDED THE ACFT'S TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE ACFT LANDED WITH TAILWIND CONDITIONS, WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED AND RWY AVAILABLE AFTER THE ATTEMPTS TO STOP, FOR A GO-AROUND TO BE INITIATED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,544 hours in all; 2,130 in this make and model; 627 in the last 90 days; 11,544 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,121 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 25, 1986; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYR Dyersburg TN at 2:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; not recorded at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.