Beech V35B accident near Concord, Arkansas, August 18, 1989
On August 18, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N699T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS BY THE PILOT/OWNER WHICH RESULTED IN CHAFED WIRING AND A SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE UNEVEN TERRAIN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N699T · no longer on the register · serial 9301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/OWNER SAID THAT WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 9000 FT MSL FOR 10,000 FT MSL, ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, HE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. THE CABIN BEGAN TO FILL WITH DENSE SMOKE, SO HE SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS MADE. DURING THE DESCENT, THE SMOKE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY CLEARED FROM THE CABIN. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED BY USING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. WHILE LANDING ON ROLLING TERRAIN, THE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO CONTINUATION OF FIRE ON THE GROUND. A POST-ACDNT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE OWNER HAD IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AN ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS, WHICH RUBBED ON THE NOISE SUPPRESSOR. AFTER IT RUBBED THRU THE INSULATION, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B/BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ROG Rogers AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.