# NTSB DEN86FA150: Beech A36TC, N1835W, Marietta, OK, June 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1986, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Marietta, OK
- Coordinates: 33.929859, -97.119674 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9299&lon=-97.1197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA150

## 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 - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - failure,total (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing,spar - failure,total (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING AND WAS ADVISED OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT THEN FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM WILEY POST AIRPORT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, TX. THE PLT AND HIS WIFE TOOK OFF AT 1235. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ITS ASSIGNED ALT OF 11,000 FT MSL AND PROCEEDED ROUTINELY UNTIL 1310 WHEN ARTCC TOLD THE PLT TO CONTACT FORT WORTH CENTER. THE PLT ACKNWLEDGED BUT NEVER CONTACTED THE CENTER. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 1319. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD EXPLOSION AND OBSERVING WRECKAGE FALLING FROM THE SKY. WITNESS OBSERVATIONS AND WX RADAR CONFIRM THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE THROUGH WHICH THE ACFT FLEW. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS FAILED NEGATIVELY AND SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. BOTH WINGS THEN FAILED NEGATIVELY AND SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1835W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1835W-1992-05-15), registration cancelled 1992-05-15, S/N EA260 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA260
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph H. Short
- Registered owner: Joseph H. Short
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1985
- Departed: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,007 total, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADM, 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 19860604021359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860604021359A), Jun 4, 1986: Beech A36TC, Marietta, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft broke up in an area of thunderstorms. Pilot was weather briefed. Not current for IFR flying.

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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