FTW83FA170

NTSB accident investigation · Beech A36 · Enid, OK · March 30, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
March 30, 1983, 05:30 local (11:30 UTC)
Place
Enid, OK
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N18314Beech A36
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830330010099A
Case key
20714

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandCause
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Vfr flight into imc - inadvertentPilot in commandCause

Analysis

During the early morning hours, the acft crashed at the edge of a wheat field on relatively level terrain. The main wreckage then crossed a road & came to rest in another field. There were no known witnesses. A passing farmer discovered the wreckage at about 0830 CST. The medical examiner estimated the occupants were fatally injured at aprx 0600. However, the tower had been manned at 0540 & no radio calls were received from the acft after that time. Thus, the time of the accident was presumed to be at about 0530. At 0600, the 1st wx observation at Enid, OK was: 500 ft broken,25,000 ft overcast, visibility 4 mi with fog. By 0632, the wx had deteriorated to 100 ft obscured with fog. N exam of the wreckage revealed the acft had impacted left wing 1st, while in near wings level flt. No preimpact. Mechanical problem was evident. Both occupants had been observed drinking until aprx 0130. A check of the plt's blood revealed an alcohol level of 0.11%. The acft crashed about 4 mi se of the arpt, headed nw.

Aircraft

Registration
N18314
Reported as
Beech A36
Category
Airplane
Serial number
E-1084
Airframe hours
1,086
Engine
Continental IO-520-BA, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Messer Bowers Co.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 29, 1983 · 1 hours before
Departed
WDG · Enid, OK
Airport
WDG · Woodring

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
22
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
148 total · 80 in this make and model · 39 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
10° at 3 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
WDG, 4 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.