N9508R

On October 14, 2002, at 1315 central daylight time, a Beech K35 single-engine airplane, N9508R, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence and tree during the landing roll near Flippin, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 203-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Grenada Municipal Airport (GNF), near Grenada, Mississippi, at 1220 and was destined to the Gastons Airport (3M0), near Lakeview, Arkansas.

The 37,000-hour pilot reported that he was en route to 3M0 when he saw a pasture that appeared to be his destination. The pilot reported the he "observed this large grass field from 20 miles away, it looked like the right place until I saw the fence which I tried to avoid." The pilot further reported that he made two passes over the field before landing. While landing to the north, he saw a fence and pulled-up to clear it. The airplane cleared the fence and touched down approximately 600 feet from the end of the field. The airplane continued through another fence, slid sideward through two trees before coming to rest upright in a driveway located in the front yard of the house owned by the property owner.

The pilot made this approach to a pasture located approximately 5 miles south of Gastons Airport. The pilot reported that he had never been to 3M0 before and the description he was given was that Gastons was a field "near [a] river with houses lined up on [the] side of [the] field." 3M0 features a single turf runway (6/24), reported as 3,200 feet long by 55 feet wide. The airport is located next to a river and outlined by white day markers.

An examination of the airplane, by the FAA inspector, revealed that both main landing gears were separated, and the tail forward of the ruddervator was separated.

The pilot reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the accident could have been avoided had he been "given a better description of Gastons and if he landed in the other direction."