# NTSB LAX89FA082: Beech 35-B33, N8974M, Ripon, CA, January 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1989, 10:12 local (18:12 UTC)
- Place: Ripon, CA
- Coordinates: 37.749538, -121.120773 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7495&lon=-121.1208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26201/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA082

## Probable cause

CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS AND STRUCTURAL (WING) ICING, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED STALL.  A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE ICING CONDITION.

## 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)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - stall - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT RCVD A WX BRIEFING FOR THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. THIS INCLUDED INFO ABOUT THE FREEZING LVL (FORECAST AT 5000 FT) & A PRECAUTION FOR MODERATE ICING CONDS. THE BRIEFING DID NOT INCLUDE SIGMET LIMA 1 INFO ABOUT MODERATE TO SEVERE ICING CONDS, BUT THE SIGMENT WAS NOT VALID FOR THE PLT'S PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. HOWEVER, THE PLT RCVD CLNC FOR AN AMENDED ROUTE OF FLT, WHICH WENT THRU THE EDGE OF AN AREA DEFINED BY SIGMET LIMA 1. SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING AT 11,000', THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT WAS IN ICING CONDS & WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AS THE ARTCC CONTROLLER WAS COORDINATING WITH TRACON FOR A LOWER ALTITUDE, THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT WAS STALLING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IT CRASHED IN A RIGHT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & BURNED. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLT IN KNOWN ICING CONDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8974M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8974M-1989-12-12), registration cancelled 1989-12-12, S/N CD728 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35-B33
- Registry model: [Beech 35-B33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-b33) (registry code 1151406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CD-728
- Airframe hours: 3223
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Enterprises, Inc.
- Registered owner: Richard Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1987, 168 hours before
- Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Destination: EMT, EL MONTE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 673 total, 8 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °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 19890110000379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890110000379A), Jan 10, 1989: Beech 35B33, Ripon, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Filed and proceeded with known icing aloft. Iced up en route stalled and spun in.

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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