# NTSB LAX82FA069: Beech 95-C55, N200WJ, Twentynine Palm, CA, February 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1982, 16:53 local (Feb 11, 1982, 00:53 UTC)
- Place: Twentynine Palm, CA
- Coordinates: 34.240322, -115.860191 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2403&lon=-115.8602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72888/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA069

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT 1605, THE FLT CALLED BLYTHE FSS STATING HE WAS 25 MI EAST FOR LANDING. WHEN HE HEARD THAT HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES IN ANOTHER ACFT WERE PREPARING TO DEPART BLYTHE FOR TWENTYNINE PALMS, THE PLT CANCELLED HIS LANDING INTENTIONS & STATED THAT THEY WILL BE GOING ON TO TWENTYNINE PALMS ALSO. THE PLTS IN THE OTHER ACFT WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN & STATED THAT BECAUSE OF SOLID INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS THEY DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THE ATC FREQ TO COMMUNICATE WITH N200WJ. THE ACFT CRASHED IN DESERT TERRAIN 32 MI EAST OF TWENTYNINE PALMS. A WITNESS STATED THAT VISIBILITY AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AT 1630 WAS LESS THAN 1/4 MI WITH MODERATE RAIN. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A MULTI-ENGINE OR INSTRUMENT RATING,AND HIS CLASS II MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED. THE PAX HAD UNDERGONE DOUBLE BYPASS SURGERY IN 1975 FOR SEVERE OCCLUSIVE CORONARY DISEASE. THE AUTOPSY INDICATED THAT THE BYPASS VESSEL HAD A FRESHLY PROPAGATING CLOT, TOTALLY OCCLUDING THE LUMEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200WJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200WJ-1986-10-17), registration cancelled 1986-10-17, S/N TE-252 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-C55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-252
- Airframe hours: 3497
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Tom Bethal Construction Compan
- Registered owner: Tom Bethal
- Departed: SAD, SAFFORD, AZ
- Destination: TNP, TWENTYNINE PALM, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 1,589 total, 326 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk

## 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 19820210004009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820210004009A), Feb 10, 1982: Beech 95C55, Twentynine Palm, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot lost control in fog and rain. Pilot not multi engine rated. Expired medical and no biennial flight check.

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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