# NTSB LAX84FA116: Beech P35, N258C, Mckittrick, CA, December 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1983, 11:34 local (19:34 UTC)
- Place: Mckittrick, CA
- Coordinates: 35.340278, -119.759391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3403&lon=-119.7594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA116

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - climb - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING ON AN IFR X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING FROM 7000 TO 11,000 FT, WHEN THE PLT WAS ASKED (AT 1126) TO INCREASING HER RATE OF CLIMB BECAUSE OF OTHER TRAFFIC. AT 1926:13, SHE WAS ASKED TO SAY HER ALT & SHE SAID SHE WAS AT 9500 FT. AT 1926:32, THE PLT WAS ASKED IF SHE WAS CLIMBING TO 11,000 FT & SHE REPLIED 'AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.' AT 1926:21, ATC AGAIN ASKED THE PLT TO REPORT HER ALT. THE ONLY REPLY WAS THE SOUND OF AN INTERMITTENT OPEN MICROPHONE. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE LAST MODE C REPLY WAS AT 1129:27 AT 10,200 FT. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST 1 MIN LATER. GROUND WITNESSES BRIEFLY OBSERVED THE ACFT AT AN ESTIMATED 800 TO 1500 FT AGL. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT TO AN EXTREME NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N258C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH P35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: O-7068
- Airframe hours: 4986
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Flying Particles, Inc.
- Registered owner: Berthold W. Weinstein
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1983, 58 hours before
- Departed: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA
- Destination: IPL, IMPERIAL, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 485 total, 30 in this make and model, 281 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 27 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 19831227063329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831227063329A), Dec 27, 1983: Beech P35BEECH, Mckittrick, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Near vertical rotational impact. Moderate icing and severe turbulence in area. Witness observed aircraft in a spin.

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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