# NTSB DEN86LA116: Beech A-36, N4479W, Wall, SD, April 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1986, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Wall, SD
- Coordinates: 43.990684, -102.230606 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9907&lon=-102.2306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16949/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA116

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - snow
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO WX, WHEN THE ACFT HE WAS PILOTING ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED CROSSWIND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT SAID THE LEFT WING DIPPED & MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE VISIBILITY TO BE LESS THAN 1/2 MI WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4479W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A-36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3-544
- Airframe hours: 1758
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald E. Brodowicz  And, doing business as William Lee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1985, 63 hours before
- Departed: 9D1, GREGORY, SD
- Destination: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Airport: 6V4, Wall Municipal, runway 30, 3,000 × 150 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 468 total, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 15 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19860413011479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860413011479A), Apr 13, 1986: Beech A36, Wall, SD, Substantial damage. Allowed a wing to hit the ground while landing in a crosswind. Aircraft cartwheeled on the snow covered runway.

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.
