Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gilroy, California 95029
Saturday, February 13, 1982 11:25 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS ADVISED DURING THE WX BRIEFING THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMEDED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS & THAT SAN JOSE WAS REPORTING 3,000 FT SCATTERED; 4,000 FT BROKEN; 9,000 FT OVERCAST WITH 10 MI VISIBILITY WITH LIGHT RAIN. APPROXIMATELY 36 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS & A WING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. WITNESSES STATED THAT LIGHT RAIN & FOG EXISTED IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN & WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 MI IN DIAMETER. THE LEFT WING & BOTH STABILATORS HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1125
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GILROY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95029
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 53
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 13
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2519
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8385D
NTSB Number LAX82FA071
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model J35
Aircraft Series Identifier J35
Aircraft Serial Number D5489
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 5174
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY W. NIVA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2440 TYLER ST.
Aircraft Owner City EUGENE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97405
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GARY W. NIVA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2440 TYLER ST.
Operator City EUGENE
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97405
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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
Departure City SAN JOSE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1049
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City LAS VEGAS
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --