# NTSB FTW81FA074: Beech E35, N3281C, Fay, OK, April 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1981
- Place: Fay, OK · FAY, OK
- Location: 35.8161° N, 98.6587° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fay, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8161&lon=-98.6587&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125250
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA074
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA074

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2656  81/4/18  NR.FAY,OK             BEECH E35           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 1507
        TIME - 1305                    N3281C              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WATONGA,OK                  TUCUMCARI,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           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)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- L V-TAIL STABILIZER/RUDDERVATOR SEPD DWNWRD.R WING & R V-TAIL STABILIZER/RUDDERVATOR SEPD UPWRD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3281C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3281C-2012-03-23), registration cancelled 2012-03-23, S/N D-3948, 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: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N3281C (1)

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 LAX70DUG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70DUG19), Mar 13, 1970: Beech E35 (N3281C), Blythe, CA, 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.

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