# NTSB LAX81FA103: Beech F35, N3339C, Carson City, NV, July 4, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1981
- Place: Carson City, NV · CARSON CITY, NV
- Location: 39.1638° N, 119.7674° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carson City, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1638&lon=-119.7674&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA103
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA103

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1458   81/7/4  NR.CARSON CITY,NV     BEECH F35           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1750                    N3339C              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  47, UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MINDEN, NV                  SO. LAKE TAHOE, CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      90
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES OBSVD ACFT CLIMB STRAIGHT OUT AFT TKOF TOWARDS ACCD SITE AT SPOONER SUMMIT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3339C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3339C-2013-02-25), registration cancelled 2013-02-25, S/N D-4005, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F35
- Registry model: [Beech F35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f35) (registry code 1151514) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Douglas County

## 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 19810704038319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810704038319A), Jul 4, 1981: Beech F35, Carson City, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried to outclimb rising mountain terrain without circling for altitude. Moderate downdraft in area, struck trees.

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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