Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richards, Missouri 64778
Monday, July 28, 1997 9:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The left wing separated as the noninstrument-rated private pilot penetrated thunderstorms. The flight originated from the Sundance Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, about 0800, en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with a planned fuel stop at Trenton, Missouri. Weather radar data and radar ground track showed the airplane proceeding to the northeast and initially outside of precipitation and in visual meteorological conditions. About the time the airplane made an initial deviation towards the south, the radar data indicated that it was in the vicinity of an area of convection. The airplane flew south until it was clear of the first shower/thunderstorm and then turned toward the northeast to resume course. The radar data indicated that shortly after resuming the northeast track, the airplane penetrated a VIP level three or four developing thunderstorm and remained in the cell until ground impact. Local residents near the accident site reported that there were thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area around the time of the accident. According to FAA records, there were no weather briefings given to the pilot. The pilot had a total of 1.9 hours simulated instrument time recorded in his pilot logbook.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and the loss of aircraft control which resulted in the aircraft exceeding its design stress limits. Factors were the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing and the adverse weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 937
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RICHARDS
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64778
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID CNU
Elevation of weather observation facility 1011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1272
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3835B
NTSB Number FTW97FA292
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model F35
Aircraft Series Identifier F35
Aircraft Serial Number D-4106
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 13 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 97
Airframe Hours 4593
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN L. GOFF
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2304 NW 45TH
Aircraft Owner City OKLAHOMA CITY
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73112
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HSD
Departure City OKLAHOMA CITY
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TRX
Destination City TRENTON
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --