# NTSB FTW85MA297: Beech H35, N356B, El Reno, OK, July 25, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1985, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: El Reno, OK - Coordinates: 35.539558, -97.95964 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5396&lon=-97.9596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 21867 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85MA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21867/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85MA297 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,ruddervator - overload - wing - overload - flight control,ruddervator - separation - wing - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE ACFT TOOK OFF AT 1054 CDT IN VMC WITH NO FLT PLAN. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A RPRTD CEILING OF 1800 FT. AT 1112 CDT, THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS AT 10,000 FT, 'JUST REACHING THE TOPS.' AT 1137 CDT, HE STATED 'WE'RE ABOUT 60 WEST OF OKE CITY, WESTBOUND TO SAYRE VOR & WE'RE AT 12,500 FT & NOT QUITE ON TOP . .' APRX 7.5 MIN LATER, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLT BREAK-UP & CRASHED WHILE ON A WESTERLY HDG APRX 19 MI WSW OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT, WELL EAST OF WHERE THE PLT HAD LAST RPRTD HIMSELF. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVR A 4600 FT AREA ALONG ON A HDG OF 292 DEG. WITNESSES RPRTD HEARING THE ENG AT HI RPM, THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY SAW PIECES OF THE ACFT FALLING OUT OF THE CLDS. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THE LEFT WING & BOTH RUDDERVATORS HAD SEPD FM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE LAST ENTRY IN THE PLT'S LOGBOOK WAS DATED 11/1/84. HIS LAST RECORDED FLT IN A BEECH 35 WAS ON 2/2/84. AN NTSB WX STUDY SHOWED CLD BASES AT APRX 3000 FT,CLD TOPS AT 12,500 FT, LGT TO MOD RAIN & LGT TO MOD TURBC BELOW 14,000 FT. NO PRE-ACDNT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N356B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N356B-2012-10-04), registration cancelled 2012-10-04, S/N D-4987, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D4987 - Airframe hours: 3048 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-G 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry Gossage - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1985, 58 hours before - Departed: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Destination: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,280 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,182 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 20 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 19850725033699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850725033699A), Jul 25, 1985: Beech H35, El Reno, OK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost control climbing thru convective clouds without a clearance. Indicates spiral dive pullup and airframe failure. ## Other investigations on N356B (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 MKC76DCD32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCD32), Mar 17, 1976: Beech H35 (N356B), Des Moines, IA, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.