# NTSB LAX86FA140: Beech A36TC, N333AU, Woodfords, CA, March 15, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1986, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Woodfords, CA
- Coordinates: 38.72903, -119.840301 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7290&lon=-119.8403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24905
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24905/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA140

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE WX DETERIORATED WHILE THE ACFT WAS CRUISING IN IMC AT 17,000 FT. MODERATE TURBULENCE & ICING CONDITIONS IN THE LAYERED CLOUDS WERE REPORTED BY OTHER NEARBY FLYING ACFT. THE PLT INFORMED ARTCC THAT HE 'LOST THE AUTOPILOT,' & THE ACFT'S COURSE BEGAN CHANGING RADICALLY. A GROUND BASED WITNESS DESCRIBED THE APPROACHING ACFT'S NOISE AS BEING SIMILAR TO THE 'SCREAMING' PRODUCED BY AN ACFT IN A POWER DIVE. THE SURFACE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY SNOW TO BETWEEN 200 FT - 1/4 MI. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP OCCURRED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND DISTRIBUTED OVER A 1/8 BY 3/4 MILE AREA. THE PRIMARY AIRFRAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WING SPAR CARRY THROUGH STRUCTURE. THE STRUCTURE BROKE IN AN UPWARD (POSITIVE) DIRECTION. NO EVIDENCE FOR THE REPORTED LOSS OF THE AUTOPILOT OR WITH THE RELATED FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM WAS FOUND. THE ACFT WAS NEITHER CERTIFICATED NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333AU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333AU-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N EA-198, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-198
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aurich, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1985, 21 hours before
- Departed: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: OXR, OXNARD, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,310 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 9 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 19860315087199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860315087199A), Mar 15, 1986: Beech A36TC, Woodfords, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. ATC lost radar, radio contact with aircraft at 17000 feet in cruise. Icing conditions. Wreckage widely scattered.

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.