- Date
- February 13, 1982, 11:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place
- Gilroy, CA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8385DBeech J35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 13, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820213004019A
- Case key
- 70832
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was advised during the wx briefing that VFR flight was not recommeded across the mountains & that san jose was reporting 3,000 ft scattered; 4,000 ft broken; 9,000 ft overcast with 10 mi visibility with light rain. Approximately 36 min after takeoff the acft was observed descending out of the clouds & a wing had separated from the acft. Witnesses stated that light rain & fog existed in the area at the time of the accident. The wreckage was located in mountainous terrain & was scattered over an area approximately 1-1/2 mi in diameter. The left wing & both stabilators had separated in flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8385D
- Reported as
- Beech J35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D5489
- Airframe hours
- 5,174
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-C, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gary W. Niva
- Registered owner
- Gary W. Niva
- Departed
- San Jose, CA
- Destination
- Las Vegas, NV
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 164 total · 13 in this make and model · 115 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 13° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Temperature
- 127 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.