# NTSB FTW83LA165: Beech 200, N417EM, High Island, March 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1983, 13:42 local (19:42 UTC)
- Place: High Island
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20846
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20846/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA165

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS BEING VECTORED AROUND THUNDERSTORMS WHEN SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PENETRATE A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT FOUR MILE WIDE WHEN THE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE COURSE OF PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE AREA OF LEAST INTENSITY BASED ON ACFT RADAR, CENTER RADAR AND PRECEDING ACFT REPORTS. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT WHAT HE ENCOUNTERED WAS CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N417EM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-937
- Airframe hours: 365
- Engines: P&W PT6A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Intermedics Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 28, 1983
- Departed: NEW, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Destination: LBX, LAKE JACKSON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CBX, Brazoria County, runway 35, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,505 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,675 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLS, 25 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 19830323009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830323009039A), Mar 23, 1983: Beech 200BEECH, High Island, TX, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence while penetrating a known line of cumulo nimbus cells. Aircrafts wings were damaged.

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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