# NTSB MIA85LA051: Beech V35B, N6737L, St. Petersburg, FL, December 3, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1984, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Location: 27.7709° N, 82.6793° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Petersburg, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7709&lon=-82.6793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31326
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31326/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA051

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - level off - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/navigation instrument(s) - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT RECEIVED SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO ENTER TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AND WAS ADVISED TO DESCEND TO 1600 FT AND CONTACT TOWER FOR LANDING. PLT INITIATED DESCENT, LOWERING GEAR TO INCREASE DESCENT RATE AND RECEIVED LANDING CLEARANCE WHILE MANUVERING TO REMAIN CLEAR OF FOG PATCHES. PLT THEN NOTED ALTIMETER READING OF 200-300 FT, APPLIED POWER BUT FAILED TO ARREST THE DESCENT. ACFT COLLIDED WITH WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6737L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech V35B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D10337
- Airframe hours: 767
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Burgess Carriage House Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1984
- Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL
- Destination: PIE, ST.PETERSBURG, FL
- Airport: PIE, Clearwater, runway 17, 7,990 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,631 total, 706 in this make and model, 1,631 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE

## 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 19841203064339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841203064339A), Dec 3, 1984: Beech V35B, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot received special VFR clearance. Inadvertently descended too low, impacted water.

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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