# NTSB LAX84LA015: Beech S35, N7916K, Laton, CA, October 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Laton, CA
- Coordinates: 36.430595, -119.689659 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4306&lon=-119.6897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24059/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN LVL FLT AND CRUISE FLT CONFIGURATION THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG SUDDENLY BEGAN TO GET ROUGH HE NOTED THAT WHEN PWR WAS PARTIALLY REDUCED THE ROUGHNESS TERMINATED. WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED THE ENG DIED MOMENTARILY. HE RPTD THAT THE ENG RPM WAS MAINTAINED ABT 2450 RPM BUT ONLY 15 TO 18 IN OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE COULD BE OBTAINED. ON SHORT FINAL TO A SELECTED FIELD THE PLT SAID HE REMEMBERED TO SWITCH THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. PWR RETURNED TO A NORMAL LVL AND THE ROUGHNESS DISAPPEARED. THE PLT ELECTED TO PICK OUT ANOTHER MORE SUITABLE LNDG SITE AND THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DMGD DURING LNDG. NO MECH MALF OF ANY ENG OR ACFT COMPONENT WAS LOCATED WHICH MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT ABT THE TRANSIENT ENG ROUGHNESS WHICH THE PLT RPTDLY EXPERIENCED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7916K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D7411
- Airframe hours: 2785
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Remle Aviation
- Registered owner: Robert B. Markarian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 1982, 92 hours before
- Departed: 0Q4, SELMA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 437 total, 13 in this make and model, 383 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19831016054649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831016054649A), Oct 16, 1983: Beech S35, Laton, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot made emergency landing because of rough running engine. After accident engine was test run successfully.

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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