# NTSB LAX81FA063: Beech B35, N8587R, Winkelman, AZ, March 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1981
- Place: Winkelman, AZ · WINKELMAN, AZ
- Location: 32.9825° N, 110.7617° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Winkelman, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9825&lon=-110.7617&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA063

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0996  81/3/20  NR.WINKELMAN,AZ       BEECH B35           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1143                    N8587R              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANCASTER, CA               EL PASO, TX
        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 - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- WITNESSES RPTD LOW CEILINGS W CLOUDS OBSCG MTN TOPS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8587R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8587R-1984-03-14), registration cancelled 1984-03-14, S/N D9688 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B35
- Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (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 19810320011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810320011299A), Mar 20, 1981: Beech V35B, Winkleman, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control in mountain area with tops obscured by clouds, rain, fog. Failed to obtain complete weather briefing.

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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