# NTSB LAX83FA098: Beech H35, N4687D, Tucson, AZ, February 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1983, 17:47 local (Feb 7, 1983, 00:47 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.150585, -110.930152 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1506&lon=-110.9302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23425/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA098

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, approach
  - traffic advisory - issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
  - safety advisory - issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded
  - stabilizer - overload
  - flight control,ruddervator - overload

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF THE POSITION OF A BOEING 727 THAT WAS LANDING ON RWY 29R & HE REPORTED SEEING THEACFT. HE ALSO WAS CAUTIONED ABOUT POSSIBLE WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE BOEING & HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ON AN APPROACH TO LAND, ABOUT 2 MI FROM THE ARPT, HIS BEECH H35 SUDDENLY PITCHED UP & FLIPPED OVER. HE RECOVERED, WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH AND LANDED SAFELY. AN EXAM AFTER LANDING REVEALED THAT THE V-TAIL WAS DAMAGED. THE INBOARD LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT STABILIZER WAS DEFORMED DOWNWARD ABOUT 1 3/4 INCHES & ITS LOWER SKIN WAS BUCKLED BETWEEN THE FRONT & REAR SPARS. THE FRONT SPAR OF THE RIGHT RUDDERVATOR WAS TWISTED & THERE WAS SKIN DEFORMATIONON BOTH RUDDERVATORS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE BEECH HAD CROSSED THE PATH OF THE LARGE ACFT AT APRX THE SAME ALT & ABOUT 60 TO 65 SEC LATER. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE UPSET WAS APRX 160 KTS. THE MANEUVERING SPEED WAS 124 KTS IAS. THE AIM RCMDS 2 MIN SEPN BEHIND A LARGE ACFT WHEN LANDING ON THE SAME RWY OR A PARALLEL RWY WITHIN 2500 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4687D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4687D-2016-02-17), registration cancelled 2016-02-17, S/N D-4878, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H35
- Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D 4878
- Airframe hours: 3611
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-G 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce Gerald Wood
- Registered owner: Copper State Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1982, 260 hours before
- Departed: GYM, GUAYMAS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TUC, Tucson Intl., runway 29L, 9,120 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,106 total, 1,011 in this make and model, 1,120 as pilot in command, 187 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 2 nm away

## 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 19830206005729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830206005729A), Feb 6, 1983: Beech H35, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Caught in wake turbulence that flipped aircraft on its back. Landed with severely damaged elevons.

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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