# NTSB FTW86FA035: Beech M-35, N7BU, Valley View, TX, January 17, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1986, 10:54 local (16:54 UTC)
- Place: Valley View, TX
- Coordinates: 33.479713, -97.159812 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4797&lon=-97.1598&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): 21887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21887/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA035

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING THAT CALLED FOR MARGINAL VFR TO IFR CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT HIS ROUTE OF FLT. DESTINATION WX WAS BRIEFED AS 700' OVC, VIS 2 MILES IN HAZE AND FOG AND THE EN ROUTE WX WAS CONSIDERABLY WORSE. SEVERAL WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE FOG AND LOW CEILING. AT ONE POINT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING DOWN AN INTERSTATE HWY. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A 42 DEG NOSE DOWN, 46 DEG RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE, AT HIGH SPEED. A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED THE IMPACT ESTIMATED THE WX AS 200' CEILING, 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY WITH FOG. A REVIEW OF THE PLTS LOGS REVEALED THAT HE HAD LOGGED 1 HOUR OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME SINCE HE BEGAN INSTRUCTION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF INFLIGHT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF AIRFRAME, ENG OR ACFT SYSTEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7BU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7BU-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N D-6472, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH M-35
- Registry model: [Beech M35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-m35) (registry code 1151526) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-6472
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bill Usher
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1985
- Departed: 1F9, BRIDGEPORT, TX
- Destination: F39, SHERMAN, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 243 total, 211 in this make and model, 181 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: F39, 27 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 19860117000829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860117000829A), Jan 17, 1986: Beech M35, Valley View, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft impacted the ground at high speed. The VFR pilot was operating in IFR conditions.

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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