FTW84LA250

NTSB accident investigation · Beech C35 · Arnett, OK · May 27, 1984

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 27, 1984, 01:00 local (06:00 UTC)
Place
Arnett, OK
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N5852CBeech C35
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19840527070259A
Case key
21348

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 - normal
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - below approach/landing minimumsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
DelayedPilot in commandFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - ground
Clearance - misjudgedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

According to the plt, the wx for his route of flt was forcast to remain VFR. En route, ceilings at 4000 to 5000 ft MSL were encountered in the vicinity of hobart, OK. As the flt continued the wx deteriorated. In order to maintain VFR conditions, the non-instrument rated plt descended to 3200 ft MSL, then to 3000 ft MSL, & changed his destination from woodward, OK, to gage, OK. As the ceiling lowered, the plt slowed the acft to 100 to 120 mph & cruised near an indicated 2500 ft (at night). He thought he was cruising below the clouds at 200 to 300 ft AGL. Subsequently, the acft collided with the terrain in a wings level, flat attitude at a reported elevation of 2473 ft. the wx reporting facilities at gage & hobart had closed at 2100 & 1800 CDT, respectively. Ft sill, OK, reported IFR ceilings of 700 ft overcast with 10 mi visibility. There was no fss record of the plt updating his wx briefing while en route.

Aircraft

Registration
N5852C
Reported as
Beech C35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D-2804
Airframe hours
3,300
Engine
Continental E-22-8, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John H. Knowles
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 19, 1984 · 25 hours before
Departed
60F · Seymour, TX
Destination
WWR · Woodward, OK

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
29
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
179 total · 110 in this make and model · 116 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
45° at 10 knots
Visibility
2 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
100 ft overcast
Temperature
61 °F, dew point -0 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N5852C · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.