# NTSB FTW81FA004: Beech V35A, N1780A, Cedar Hill, TX, October 15, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 15, 1980
- Place: Cedar Hill, TX · CEDAR HILL, TX
- Location: 32.5885° N, 96.9561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cedar Hill, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5885&lon=-96.9561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2770  80/10/15   CEDAR HILL,TX       BEECH V35A          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 3238
        TIME - 1012                    N1780A              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1038 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ABILENE,TX                  SEAGOVILLE,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  750
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     160
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TV TWR 1408FT AGL.WITNESS REPTD APRX 750FT OVC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1780A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1780A-1981-01-16), registration cancelled 1981-01-16, S/N D-9018, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35A
- Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (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 19801015086429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801015086429A), Oct 15, 1980: Beech V35A, Cedar Hill, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck radio tower guywire during low-level cruise in marginal VFR weather. Top of tower obscured by clouds.

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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