# NTSB IAD77FA030: Beech 35, N4459V, Boones Mill, VA, March 12, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1977
- Place: Boones Mill, VA · BOONES MILL, VA
- Location: 37.1156° N, 79.9514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boones Mill, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1156&lon=-79.9514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD77FA030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FA030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0836  77/3/12  NR.BOONES MILL,VA     BEECH 35            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 581
        TIME - 0823                    N4459V              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLACKSBURG,VA               ROANOKE,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      150
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           6                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT COULD NOT MAINTAIN HEADINGS GIVEN BY CONTROLLER. OBSERVED ON RADAR DOING 360DEG TURN BFR ACC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4459V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4459V-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N D-1275, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35
- Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19770312013389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770312013389A), Mar 12, 1977: Beech 35BEECH, Boones Mill, VA, Destroyed. Plt could not maintain headings given by controller. Observed on radar doing 360DEG turn bfr acc.

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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