# NTSB MKC78FA034: Beech S-35, N7971K, Audubon, IA, April 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 29, 1978
- Place: Audubon, IA · AUDUBON, IA
- Location: 41.7180° N, 94.9284° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Audubon, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7180&lon=-94.9284&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142123
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1847  78/4/29    AUDUBON,IA          BEECH S-35          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 2720
        TIME - 1030                    N7971K              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 2520 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DUBUQUE,IA                  SALT LAKE,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7971K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7971K-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N D-7939, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S-35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (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 19780429023209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780429023209A), Apr 29, 1978: Beech F35, Audubon, IA, Destroyed, 4 fatal

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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