# NTSB FTW88FA032: Beech H35, N5568D, Port Mansfield, TX, November 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1987, 09:32 local (15:32 UTC)
- Place: Port Mansfield, TX
- Coordinates: 26.469638, -97.780738 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4696&lon=-97.7807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22527/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA032

## 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
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - artcc service - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - delayed (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PLT RCVD SVRL WX BRIEFINGS BFR TKOF & WAS ADZD OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY ALONG THE INITIAL ROUTE OF FLT NORTH OF THE ARPT. THE PLANNED DEP ROUTE WAS TWD THE WX. WHILE DISCUSSING ALTN ROUTING POSSIBILITIES, THE PLT INDCD HE WOULD ASK ATC FOR DEVIATION ARND THE WX AFTER TKOF. AFTER TKOF, HE CTCD HOUSTON ARTCC & RPRTD CLMBG TO 4000'. THE CTLR (WHO HAD JUST COME ON DUTY) WASN'T EXPECTING THE ACFT & DIDN'T SEE A FLT PROGRESS SLIP FOR N5568D. A DISCUSSION FLWD CONCERNING THE STATUS OF THE FLT PLAN WITH THE CTLR FINALLY CLRG N5568D TO MAINT 4000'. SOON THEREAFTER, RADIO CTC WAS LOST & THE ACFT CRASHED IN WATER (LAGUNA MADRE) ABT 8 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT IN AN AREA OF TSTMS & LOW OVC. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT CRASHED IN ABOUT A 10 DEG NOSE DWN ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE RELIEVED ARTCC CTLR SAID HE ADZD THE RELIEVING CTLR THAT N5568D HAD A CLNC, BUT HADN'T RPRTD AIRBORNE. THE RELIEVING CTLR SAID HIS VIEW OF THE FLT PROGRESS SLIP WAS BLOCKED & HE DIDN'T SEE THE SLIP UNTIL 1 MIN LTR. THE PLT HADN'T LOGGED ANY RECENT INST APCHS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5568D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5568D-1989-08-02), registration cancelled 1989-08-02, S/N D5127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H35
- Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-5127
- Airframe hours: 3984
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-G1B 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tejas Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1987, 127 hours before
- Departed: T05, PORT MANSFIELD, TX
- Destination: F54, ARLINGTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 981 total, 625 in this make and model, 712 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HRL, 28 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 19871125068539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871125068539A), Nov 25, 1987: Beech H35, Port Mansfield, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. (-4)The plt rcvd svrl wx briefings bfr tkof & was adzd of convective activity along the initial route of flt north of the arpt. The planned dep route was twd…

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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