# NTSB LAX85FA180: Beech B-19, N9734Q, Flagstaff, AZ, March 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1985, 22:00 local (Mar 20, 1985, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.229103, -111.719482 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2291&lon=-111.7195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24480/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA180

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER RECEIVING NUMEROUS WEATHER BRIEFINGS, THAT REPORTED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND MARGINAL VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE PILOT TOOKOFF INTO THE DARK NIGHT, FOR HIS RETURN FLIGHT, OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN RIDGE, APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET BELOW THE CREST, ABOUT 6 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9734Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-19
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MB19
- Airframe hours: 1100
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2C 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dale R. Holland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1984, 110 hours before
- Departed: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ
- Destination: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 592 total, 528 in this make and model, 551 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLG, 6 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 19850319009789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850319009789A), Mar 19, 1985: Beech B19, Flagstaff, AZ, Destroyed. Struck trees on side of mountain in remote area on dark night. Pilot was behind schedule, aircraft out of annual.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.