# NTSB LAX83FUJ07: Beech K35, N6085E, Tucson, AZ, December 14, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1982, 15:23 local (22:23 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Location: 32.2217° N, 110.9265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucson, AZ, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2217&lon=-110.9265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FUJ07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72869/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FUJ07

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - judgment - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN LEFT WING TIP FIRST. THE PILOT HAD MADE A RADIO CALL SAYING HE WAS LANDING DUE TO SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AT 1517 MST. AT 1523 MST THE ACFT CRASHED OFF ARPT ON AN UPSLOPE WITH A 30 DEGREE INCLINE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT INDICATE ANY IN FLT BREAKUP OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE. NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OR HEAT SHROUDS WHICH MIGHT HAVE PRODUCED SMOKE. SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT MADE THIS A NON SURVIVABLE ACCIDENT. THE DRUGS THAT THE PILOT WAS TAKING CHRONICALLY WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT SIMILIAR TO ALCOHOL; NAMELY CONFUSION, LETHARGY, INATTENTION ETC. THE PILOT IN THE 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TOOK AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MEDICATION HIS DRUG LEVEL INDICATES HE WAS TAKING IT CHRONICALLY AND IN LARGER THAN NORMALLY PRESCRIBED DOSES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6085E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6085E-1983-12-12), registration cancelled 1983-12-12, S/N D-6035 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH K35
- Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D6035
- Airframe hours: 2184
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C-1 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kerley Chemical Corp.
- Registered owner: Kerley Chemical Corp.
- Departed: 7E2, BENSON, AZ
- Destination: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 707 total, 707 in this make and model, 707 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 22 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 19821214064499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821214064499A), Dec 14, 1982: Beech K35, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed and burned after pilot reported smoke in cockpit d that he was attempting emergency landing.

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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