# NTSB ATL89FA047: Beech P35, N9584Y, Bakersville, NC, November 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 30, 1988, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Bakersville, NC
- Coordinates: 36.009376, -82.149879 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0094&lon=-82.1499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7865/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

DURING THE VFR BUSINESS FLIGHT RADAR DATA INDICATED THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM 9,500 TO APPROX. 5,500' MSL WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN. CLOUDS WERE PRESENT IN THE AREA. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BY ELT SIGNAL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DIRECT LINE FROM THE ORIGINATING AIRPORT TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LORAN. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE DESCENT AND COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL FAILURE. LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS AND RAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9584Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9584Y-1989-11-07), registration cancelled 1989-11-07, S/N D7052 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH P35
- Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7052
- Airframe hours: 4993
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mickeys Transport, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1988, 36 hours before
- Departed: 2M3, SALLISAW, OK
- Destination: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,947 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,783 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRI, 20 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 19881130052189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881130052189A), Nov 30, 1988: Beech P35BEECH, Bakersville, NC, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Struck a cloud obscured mountain while descending en route. Radar readout indicates descent in clouds. No flight plan

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.

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