# NTSB FTW83FA170: Beech A36, N18314, Enid, OK, March 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1983, 05:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place: Enid, OK
- Coordinates: 36.399848, -97.860267 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3998&lon=-97.8603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20714
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20714/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA170

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1084
- Airframe hours: 1086
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 22; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830330010099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830330010099A), Mar 30, 1983: Beech A36, Enid, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft descended into ground and began tumbling which destroyed aircraft. Was airborne less than 15 minutes.

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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