# NTSB FTW84LA250: Beech C35, N5852C, Arnett, OK, May 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1984, 01:00 local (06:00 UTC)
- Place: Arnett, OK
- Coordinates: 36.129367, -99.770614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1294&lon=-99.7706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21348
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21348/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA250

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ground
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5852C-1984-08-24), registration cancelled 1984-08-24, S/N D-2804 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C35
- Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-2804
- Airframe hours: 3300
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840527070259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840527070259A), May 27, 1984: Beech C35BEECH, Arnett, OK, Destroyed. Pilot continued into area of rising terrain when below clouds. Aircraft flew into ground staying below clouds.

## Other investigations on N5852C (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 MKC74FCJ08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FCJ08), Aug 28, 1973: Beech C35 (N5852C), Papillion, NE, 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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