# NTSB FTW80FA124: Beech T-34B, N46939, Giddings, TX, September 27, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 27, 1980
- Place: Giddings, TX · GIDDINGS, TX
- Location: 30.1837° N, 96.9280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Giddings, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1837&lon=-96.9280&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA124
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA124

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3261  80/9/27    GIDDINGS,TX         BEECH T-34B         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 322
        TIME - 1020                    N46939              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 61 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WACO,TX                     BEEVILLE,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          100                                                       46
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR (VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP)
        REMARKS- VFR FLT PLAN NOT OPENED AFTR TKOF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46939](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46939-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N BG266 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH T-34B
- Registry model: [Beech T-34B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-t-34b) (registry code 1152014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800927048399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800927048399A), Sep 27, 1980: Beech T34B, Giddings, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot lost control of airplane in IMC. Airframe parts separated in flight due to tension overloads.

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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