# NTSB FTW73FPD38: Beech E35, N3259C, Smithfield, TX, May 23, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 23, 1973
- Place: Smithfield, TX · SMITHFIELD, TX
- Location: 32.8710° N, 97.2153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Smithfield, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8710&lon=-97.2153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73FPD38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FPD38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1393  73/5/23    SMITHFIELD,TEX      BEECH E35           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 930
        TIME - 0130                    N3259C              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MANGHAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DALLAS,TEX                  SMITHFIELD,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    9000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                      40
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ENCTRD TURB ON FINAL APCH.ATMTD CK DSCNT HIT PWR LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3259C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3259C), registered now, S/N D-3925, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E35
- Registry model: [Beech E35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e35) (registry code 1151512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mangham

## 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 19730523013379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730523013379A), May 23, 1973: Beech E35, Smithfield, TX, Substantial damage. Enctrd turb on final apch. Atmtd ck dscnt hit pwr line.

## Other investigations on N3259C (2)

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 CHI69F0420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0420), Dec 14, 1968: Beech E35 (N3259C), Roselle, IL, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI66D0690](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0690), Mar 18, 1966: Beech E35 (N3259C), Chicago, IL, 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.

---
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.