# NTSB CHI84LA259: Beech S35, N905T, Ottawa, IL, June 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 24, 1984, 00:40 local (05:40 UTC)
- Place: Ottawa, IL
- Coordinates: 41.350006, -88.830581 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3500&lon=-88.8306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12667
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12667/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA259

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating
  - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID HE 'LEFT WORD' FOR THE OTTAWA ARPT LIGHTS TO BE LEFT ON UNTIL 0200 HRS ON 6/24. WHEN THE FLT ARRIVED AT OTTAWA, THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THE PLT SAID HE 'ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN APPROACH, IT FAILED.' THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE ARPT MANAGER SAID THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE A REQUEST FOR THE LIGHTS. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.178%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N905T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7671
- Airframe hours: 2856
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Terry W. Love
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 1983
- Departed: C13, MCNABE, IL
- Airport: C13, Ottawa, runway 23, 3,173 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,066 total, 196 in this make and model, 941 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MDW

## 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 19840624026639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840624026639A), Jun 24, 1984: Beech S35, Ottawa, IL, Destroyed. Tried to land at a unlighted airport on dark night. Crash landed in a field adjacent to airport. Alcohol a factor.

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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