# NTSB FTW86FA059: Beech 65, N810Q, Montague, TX, April 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1986, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Montague, TX
- Coordinates: 33.670772, -97.719123 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6708&lon=-97.7191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21894/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA059

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ostentatious display, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED IN THE AREA FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WHILE HE WAS PERFORMING STEEP CLIMBS AND DESCENTS, LOW PASSES, AND BUZZING. WITNESSES REPORTED POWER WAS REMOVED FROM BOTH ENGINES SIMULTANEOUSLY, AS IF THE THROTTLES WERE RETARDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD POP. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO WOBBLE SLIGHTLY AND THEN A SURGE OF ENGINE POWER WAS HEARD ONLY SECONDS BEFORE TREE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN YAWED SHARPLY AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N810Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N810Q-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N LC-26, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65
- Registry model: [Beech 65](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65) (registry code 1152802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GSO&IGSO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-gso-igso-480-series) (registry code 41529, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LC-26
- Airframe hours: 5779
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-480-A1A6 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raymond C. Jopling, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 1985, 169 hours before
- Departed: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: OF2, BOWIE, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,624 total, 50 in this make and model, 10,124 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPS, 45 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 19860405009729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860405009729A), Apr 5, 1986: Beech 65, Montague, TX, Destroyed. Engines quit while making low passes over the ground. Impacted trees, ground. No reason found for engine failures.

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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