# NTSB CHI85FA153: Beech N35, N9429Y, La Porte, IN, April 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1985, 11:06 local (17:06 UTC)
- Place: La Porte, IN
- Coordinates: 41.599502, -86.70977 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5995&lon=-86.7098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12824
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12824/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA153

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - became lost/disoriented - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - , pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE THOUSAND HOUR PLUS INSTRUMENT RATED PLT FILED IFR INTO A KNOWN AREA OF THREE AND FOUR LEVEL THUNDERSTORMS. WHILE BEING DRCT BY ATC IT WAS NOTED THAT HEADINGS FLOWN WERE VERY ERRATIC. WHEN QUESTIONED BY ATC THE PILOT REPLIED 'STAND BY'. SHORTLY AFTERWARD THE ACFT WAS SEEN DESCENDING OUT OF A 400 FOOT OVERCAST AT HIGH SPEED AND STRIKING THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9429Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9429Y-1993-03-01), registration cancelled 1993-03-01, S/N D6607 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH N35
- Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D6607
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harvey A. Kinchler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1984, 49 hours before
- Departed: MDW, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,300 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 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 19850405010869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850405010869A), Apr 5, 1985: Beech N35, Laporte, IN, Destroyed. Began to fly erratically in area of thunderstorms. Lost control dived out of the 400 ft overcast. Impact demolished.

## Other investigations on N9429Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA74FLD30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74FLD30), Oct 2, 1973: Beech N35 (N9429Y), Orlando, FL, substantial damage

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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