# NTSB FTW86FA024: Beech S35, N6843Q, Pampa, TX, November 13, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1985, 19:59 local (Nov 13, 1985, 01:59 UTC)
- Place: Pampa, TX
- Coordinates: 35.539646, -100.960426 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5396&lon=-100.9604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21878/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA024

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - weather observation - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather observation - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, N6843Q WAS CLEARED FOR AN NDB RWY 17 APCH. THE PLT'S LAST RADIO CALL WAS AT 1949 CST, WHEN HE ACKNOWLEGED RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & FREQ CHG WAS APPROVED. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. AT 2335, AFTER FOG HAD LIFTED, THE ACFT WAS FND IN A PLOWED FLD APRX 1 MI NORTH OF THE RWY. AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CONTACTED THE GND IN A NOSE HI, WINGS LVL ATTITUDE WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED.INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED (MAIN GEAR 1ST) WHILE ON A HDG OF 190 DEG, APRX 100 YDS RGT OF THE EXTENDED RWY CENTERLINE. THE NOSE GEAR THEN DUG INTO SOFT DIRT & THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER.THE AREA FORCAST HAD CALLED FOR OCNL CEILINGS BLO 1000' & VIS LESS THAN 3 MI. HOWEVER, SEARCH PSNL RPRTD THE SKY WAS OBSCD & THE VIS WAS ABOUT 1/16 MI WITH FOG. APRX 50 MI SW AT AMARILLO, TX, THE 1955 WX WAS IN PART: SKY ZERO OBSCD, VIS (RVR) 1600' WITH FOG. MINS FOR THE APCH WERE 600' CEILING & 1 MI VIS. THE PLT DID NOT REQUEST UPDATED WX INFO DRG THE FLT, NOR WAS HE GIVEN AVAILABLE UPDATED (AMA) WX INFO FOR THE AREA OF THE DESTN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6843Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6843Q-1990-05-10), registration cancelled 1990-05-10, S/N D7439 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7439
- Airframe hours: 3866
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA3 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Smith International Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1985, 55 hours before
- Departed: GBD, GREAT BEND, KS
- Destination: PPA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PPA, Perry Lefors Fld, runway 17, 5,855 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; 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: 6,718 total, 494 in this make and model, 6,190 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AMA, 50 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 19851112056709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851112056709A), Nov 12, 1985: Beech S35, Pampa, TX, Destroyed. Flew into the ground one mile short of the runway on a night NDB approach. Visibility was below minimums.

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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