# NTSB LAX86FA160: Beech C35, N717D, Etiwanda, CA, March 29, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1986, 20:00 local (Mar 29, 1986, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Etiwanda, CA
- Coordinates: 34.13906, -117.509223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1391&lon=-117.5092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24906
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24906/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA160

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES & WAS ROUTINE UNTIL THE ACFT WAS APRX 15 MI EAST OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. AFTER RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED, THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED TOWARD THE NORTHWEST & FLEW INTO RISING TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3000 FEET. THE ACFT WAS REPORTED MISSING, BUT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 4/1/86. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 10 MI NORTHEAST OF THE ARPT. DARKNESS & MARGINAL WX EXISTED AT THE CRASH SITE AT THE TIME OF THE ACDNT. APRX 18 MI SOUTH AT ONTARIO, CA, THE 1945 WX WAS, IN PART: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 1300 BROKEN, 5000 OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 4 MI WITH HAZE, WIND FROM 270 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE ELEVATION AT ONTARIO WAS 952 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N717D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D2988
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lenard Sherman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: LHU, LAE HAVASU CITY, AZ
- Destination: CCB, UPLAND, CA
- Airport: Cable

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ONT, 18 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 19860328008529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860328008529A), Mar 28, 1986: Beech C35BEECH, Etiwanda, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft impacted a hill during a VFR letdown in marginal weather at night.

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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