# NTSB LAX85FA100: Beech B-35, N8889A, Death Valley, CA, January 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1985, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Death Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.600811, -116.830574 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6008&lon=-116.8306&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): 24454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24454/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA100

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT GOT AN EXTENDED WX FCST THE DAY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE WHICH INDICATED BKN TO OVC CLOUDS BASED AT ABOUT 8,000 FT FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE TRIP & SCT TO BKN CLOUDS FOR THE LAST HALF. MOUNTAIN AREAS WERE PREDICTED TO BE OBSCURED. PLT WAS ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN THE MORNING FOR A DETAILED UPDATE, HOWEVER, NO RECORD OF ANY CONTACT WAS FOUND. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED & THE ACFT DEPARTED AT ABOUT 0900 HRS ON AN UNKNOWN ROUTE FOR THE DESTINATION. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BY ELT SIGNAL & SEARCH ACFT AT 6,200 FT MSL ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE AT THE END OF A BOX CANYON. A WITNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON (ABOUT 4,000 FT MSL) REPORTED VISIBILITY 100 FT IN FOG & RAIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WX CONDITIONS ALONG THE GENERAL ROUTE OF FLT WERE WORSE THAN THE FCST PLT RECEIVED THE DAY PRIOR, WITH CEILINGS IN 3,000 FT RANGE & TOPS TO 22,000. DESTINATION APRT WAS ONE-QUARTER MILE IN SNOW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WX CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WERE ACCURATELY REPORTED IN WX INFO AVAILABLE TO THE PLT

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8889A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8889A-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N D-2544, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-35
- Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-2544
- Airframe hours: 3467
- Engines: Continental E-225-4 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Corona Aircraft Inc.
- Registered owner: James Rengert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 1984, 10 hours before
- Departed: L66, CORONA, CA
- Destination: 043, CARSON CITY, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total, 10 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 34 °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 19850107000359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850107000359A), Jan 7, 1985: Beech B35, Death Valley, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Encountered steep mountainous terrain and adverse weather. Impacted a mountainside. Lacked current weather report.

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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