# NTSB LAX80FA006: Beech V35B, N6641S, Lucerne Valley, CA, October 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 20, 1979
- Place: Lucerne Valley, CA · LUCERNE VALLEY, CA
- Location: 34.4439° N, 116.9678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lucerne Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4439&lon=-116.9678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133268
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3618  79/10/20 NR.LUCERNE VALLEY,CA  BEECH V35B          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 2100
        TIME - 1136                    N6641S              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WESTHAVEN,CA                PHOENIX,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- SIGMET-MOD,OCNLY SVR,TURBC BLO 15000FT,VCNTY MTS W STG UP/DWNDFTS ON E SLOPES.WINGS SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6641S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6641S-2013-09-25), registration cancelled 2013-09-25, S/N D-9846, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35B
- Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (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 19791020039849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791020039849A), Oct 20, 1979: Beech V35B, Lucerne Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Airplane broke up in flight. Clouds, severe turbulence, rain forcast for area indicates pilot lost control of plane

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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