# NTSB FTW87FA214: Beech 58P, N1158T, Austin, TX, September 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 1987, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Location: 30.2672° N, 97.7431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Austin, TX, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2672&lon=-97.7431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA214

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - inadequate, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RCVD A FULL WX BRIEFING AT 0540 CDT & A WX UPDATE AT 0737 WHEN HE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE FLT WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH A FINAL CRUISE ALT OF 16,000' UNTIL 1055:43, WHEN THE PLT REQD A 'LEFT TURN FOR DEVIATION.'  ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, THE CTLR NOTICED AN ALT ALERT WHEN THE ACFT DEVIATED BLO THE ASSIGNED ALT. THE CTLR TRIED TO CONTACT THE PLT, BUTLOST RADIO & RADAR CONTACT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT COME OUT OF CLDS IN A STEEP RGT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. IT CRASHED WITH A HI RATE OF SPD & DISINTEGRATED DRG IMPACT; PARTS OF THE WRECKAGE WENT INTO A NRBY LAKE.NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. AN INV REVEALED THERE WAS A LINE OF TSTMS MVG THRU THE AREA AT 35 KTS WITH TOPS TO 34,000'. THE PLT RCVD A DETAILED BRIEFING OF TSTMS AT 0540, BUT THE UPDATE BRIEFING AT 0737 DIDN'T INCLUDE PERTINENT INFO IN SEVERE TSTM WATCH #516 (ISSUED AT 0611) OR CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18C. PLT DIDN'T ASK FOR UPDATE OF WX HE WAS APCHG, BUT THE ACFT WAS RADAR EQUIPPED. THE 1102 AUSTIN WX WAS IN PART: TSTMS, WIND 010 DEG AT 18 GUSTING 32 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1158T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-8
- Airframe hours: 2036
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Longhorn Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1987
- Departed: AAP, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: GUC, GUNNISON, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: variable at 18 knots, gusting 32
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUS, 4 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 19870912051539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870912051539A), Sep 12, 1987: Beech 58P, Austin, TX, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control trying to fly in area of thunderstorm. Near vertical impact. ATC did not advise pilot of thunderstorm.

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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