# NTSB LAX81FA037: Beech S35, N844B, Casa Grande, AZ, January 16, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 16, 1981
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ · CASA GRANDE, AZ
- Location: 32.8795° N, 111.7574° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Casa Grande, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8795&lon=-111.7574&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0550  81/1/16  NR.CASA GRANDE,AZ     BEECH S35           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 572
        TIME - 1044                    N844B               PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 28 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          APPLE VALLY,CA              NOGALAS,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)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- MULITLAYERED CLOUDS.PLT RPTD LOOKING FOR HOLE TO DESCEND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N844B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N844B-1981-10-13), registration cancelled 1981-10-13, S/N D-7359, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (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 19810116000719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810116000719A), Jan 16, 1981: Beech S35, Casa Grande, AZ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Indicates loss of control when VFR entered undercast to descend below clouds. Airframe seperated in flight.

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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