# NTSB FTW89FA037: Beech B33, N1530Z, New Braunfels, TX, January 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1989, 21:40 local (Jan 7, 1989, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Coordinates: 29.699249, -98.109542 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6992&lon=-98.1095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA037

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

PILOT ADVISED DURING WX BRIEFING THAT POSSIBLE IMC COULD BE EXPECTED ALONG FLIGHT ROUTE & THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. DEPARTED WACO AT 2032 CST FOR SAN ANTONIO. AT 2131 PILOT CONTACTED SAN ANTONIO APPROACH CONTROL, PROVIDED WITH LOCAL WX - CEILING 1,000 BROKEN. OFFERED, BUT DENIED, IFR CLEARANCE. AT 2135 PILOT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS. PILOT REPORTED HIS ALTITUDE AS 1,500 FT MSL. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND IN CRUISE ATTITUDE AT APRX 1,250 FT MSL. PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1530Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1530Z-1991-10-18), registration cancelled 1991-10-18, S/N CD418 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B33
- Registry model: [Beech 35-B33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-b33) (registry code 1151406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CD418
- Airframe hours: 5437
- Engines: Continental IO-470-N(11) 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Woodward Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1988, 40 hours before
- Departed: ACT, WACO, TX
- Destination: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,110 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAT, 17 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 19890107000259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890107000259A), Jan 7, 1989: Beech 35B33, New Braunfels, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees on side of hill while scud running at night in dense fog.

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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