# NTSB SEA85LA095: Beech 36, N7514N, Elko, NV, April 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 1985, 21:37 local (Apr 22, 1985, 05:37 UTC)
- Place: Elko, NV
- Coordinates: 40.949993, -115.789955 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9500&lon=-115.7900&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): 40145
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40145/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA095

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - air navigation aids,dme - not operating
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - air/ground communications - improper, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ELKO DME (LOCATED AT THE ARPT, USED FOR THE LDA/DME APCH, 108.5 MHZ) WAS INOP. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT EXPRESSED MISTRUST OF HIS DME. APRX 24 MI SSE OF BULLION (BQU) VOR, ARTCC CONTROLLER (CTLR) CLRD N7514N FOR 'THE APCH TO THE ELKO ARPT.' SECONDS LATER, THE PLT SAID HE WAS IN A DWNDFT, DIDN'T HAVE DME TO THE ELKO VOR & ASKED IF HE WAS CLR OF THE RUBY MTNS. CTLR ADVISED, THE ACFT WAS STILL 24 MI SOUTH (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OVR MTNS). APRX 90 SEC LATER, THE CTLR ADVISED DME WAS OUT OF SVC & THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR VOR-A APCH. PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT TURNED SOUTH W/O CLNC, THEN CONTD TURNING BACK NORTH. CTLR TRIED TO CONTACT THE PLT ABOUT THE DEVIATION, BUT THE PLT HAD CHANGED TO FSS FREQ W/O CLNC. THE ARTCC CTLR NOTED DSCNDG FLT OVR MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN, CONTACTED THE FSS & LEARNED THE PLT WAS ON THE FSS FREQ. HE RELAYED AN ADVISORY OF THE ACFT'S PSN, BUT DID NOT GIVE SPECIFIC INSTNS FOR IMMEDIATE CLIMB. ACFT CRASHED IN MTNS, ELEV 10,200', APRX 19 MI SSE OF THE ARPT. MTNS WERE OBSCD BY CLDS. PLT HAD RECD AN INSTRUMENT RATING ON 3/13/85.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7514N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7514N-1985-10-30), registration cancelled 1985-10-30, S/N E-48 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 36
- Registry model: [Beech 36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-36) (registry code 1151602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-48
- Airframe hours: 3358
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA2 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1984, 107 hours before
- Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Destination: EKO, ELKO, NV
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 975 total, 574 in this make and model, 848 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EKO, 24 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 19850421015359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850421015359A), Apr 21, 1985: Beech 36BEECH, Elko, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with terrain during descent on dark night with multiple cloud layers. Pilot unaware of position.

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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