# NTSB LAX83FA166: Beech A36TC, N3863U, Sedona, AZ, March 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1983, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.940231, -111.940765 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9402&lon=-111.9408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23441/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA166

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING PREFLT BRIEFINGS, THE PLT WAS BRIEFED TO EXPECT DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS WITH ASSOCIATED FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT, ICING & MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE WX BRIEFINGS WERE COMPLETE, EXCEPT DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE CIRCUIT, THE 0654 PRESCOTT & THE 0530 TO 0851 FLAGSTAFF OBSERVATIONS WERE NOT TRANSMITTED. WHILE ENROUTE, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE EASTERN FACE OF A MOUNTAIN, APPRX 9 MINORTHWEST OF THE SEDONA ARPT AT APRX 6000 FT MSL. THE ARPT MANAGER AT SEDONA ESTIMATED A 500 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 5 MI WITH INTERMITTENT RAIN & SNOW SHOWERS. THE SEDONA ARPT WAS 1300 FT BELOW THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO AN NTSB WX STUDY, THE CLOUD BASES WERE AT 5000 TO 6000 FT MSL, CLOUD TOPS AT 11,000 FT, HIGHER CLOUD LAYERS ABOVE, FLT VISIBILITY 0 MI IN CLOUDS, MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 10,000 FT, SNOW & RAIN, FREEZING LEVEL 7000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3863U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3863U-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N EA-219, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-219
- Airframe hours: 175
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter W. Taylor, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1982, 33 hours before
- Departed: LHU, LAKE HAVASU, AZ
- Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SEZ, Sedona

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 22 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19830324069999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830324069999A), Mar 24, 1983: Beech A36TC, Sedona, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot continued flight into IMC and aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain at the 6000 foot level.

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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