# NTSB MKC74AK006: Beech E35, N389W, Alta, IA, August 16, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 16, 1973
- Place: Alta, IA · ALTA, IA
- Location: 42.6717° N, 95.3045° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Alta, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6717&lon=-95.3045&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 18, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189175
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74AK006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74AK006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2511  73/8/16  NR.ALTA,IOWA          BEECH E35           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 8150
        TIME - 1735                    N389W               PX-  2  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ADA,OKLA                    SPIRIT LAKE,IOWA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      60
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- SEVERE TURB IN AREA.L STAB ASSY SEPARATED.PLT REQ & RCVD OMAHA & SIOUX CITY WEA.NO OTR TRNSMSNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N389W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N389W-1973-11-16), registration cancelled 1973-11-16, S/N D-3927 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E35
- Registry model: [Beech E35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e35) (registry code 1151512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730816030579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730816030579A), Aug 16, 1973: Beech F35, Alta, IA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Severe turb in area.l stab assy separated. Plt req & rcvd omaha & sioux city wea. No otr trnsmsns.

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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