# NTSB ATL85FA050: Beech N35, N9476Y, Hagwood Store, NC, December 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1984, 13:56 local (18:56 UTC)
- Place: Hagwood Store, NC
- Coordinates: 35.950939, -78.250686 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9509&lon=-78.2507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6579/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA050

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - heading indicator - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - fuselage - overload (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT BROKE UP IN FLIGHT DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDER INSTRUMENT FLT RULES (IFR). AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT EXHIBITED & REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH ACFT HEADING CONTROL & SUBSEQUENTLY RADIOED HE HAD LOST CONTROL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT HAD ATTENDED BUT NOT COMPLETED AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING COURSE 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED IN AN ACFT WITH A COMPASS CARD TYPE DIRECTIONAL HEADING INDICATOR. N9476Y HAD A HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED HEADING INDICATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9476Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9476Y-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N D-6640, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH N35
- Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-6640
- Airframe hours: 2352
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: First Flight Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1984, 37 hours before
- Departed: RDU, RALEIGH, NC
- Destination: MQI, MANTEO, NC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 380 total, 120 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 22 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841206064519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841206064519A), Dec 6, 1984: Beech N35, Hagwood Store, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Non IFR rated pilot lost control in clouds and icing. Inflight airframe failure.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.