Federal investigators say there was no indication of distress in the small aircraft crash Friday night killing a Mountain Home native.
According to reports from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Lewis Brant Barnes of Tontitown was killed when his M35 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft went down near North Smokey Bear Road in Washington County. Barnes was the only person in the aircraft at the time of the crash.
A post from the sheriff’s office states they were notified around 5:57 Friday night of the crash and arrived within minutes. The Fayetteville Fire Department, Round Mountain Fire Department, Central EMS and the Washington County Coroner’s Office also responded to the incident.
According to the Arkansas Democratic Gazette, Peter Knudson, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated Monday the weather was good at the time of the crash and no distress calls were made that they were aware of. Authorities state Barnes was on his way back to Drake Field after flying to Stuttgart.
Knudson stated the NTSB investigator arrived from Chicago Saturday, completed his on-site work Sunday and left the area by Monday.
Preliminary reports on the crash could take two to three weeks, and a final report up to 12 to 24 months. Knudson states the investigation will include a review of any flight logs and other information on Barnes and on the aircraft.
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