# NTSB LAX78FA045: Beech S35, N5851S, Palmdale, CA, May 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1978
- Place: Palmdale, CA · PALMDALE, CA
- Location: 34.5794° N, 118.1165° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palmdale, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5794&lon=-118.1165&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2435   78/5/1    PALMDALE,CA         BEECH S35           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 66, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1039                    N5851S              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAKERSFIELD,CA              PARKER,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSERVED BELOW BASE OF CLOUDS SPINNING WITH LEFT WING & TAIL SURFACES MISSING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5851S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5851S-1980-11-15), registration cancelled 1980-11-15, S/N D-7745 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (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 19780501027799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780501027799A), May 1, 1978: Beech F35, Palmdale, CA, Destroyed. Acft observed below base of clouds spinning with left wing & tailfaces missing.

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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