Beech J35 accident near Magan, Kentucky, May 9, 1982
On May 9, 1982 at about 2:09 am local time, a Beech J35, registered N8376D, was destroyed in an accident near Magan, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1982 · about 2:09 am local time
- Place
- Magan, Kentucky
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N8376D · no longer on the register · serial D 5506
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 2017 EDT, APPROACH CONTROL CLEARED THE PILOT TO DESCEND FROM 7000 FT TO 2500 FT AND BEGAN PROVIDING VECTORS FOR AN ILS APPROACH. ABOUT 9 MINUTES LATER, APPROACH CONTROL ADVISED THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST, BUT NO REPLY WAS RECEIVED. AT ABOUT 2042, RADIO CONTACT WAS REESTABLISHED AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD LOST HIS "LEVEL INSTRUMENTS" AND WOULD RETURN TO TERRA HAUTE, IN. SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSIONS REVEALED A LOSS OF THE ATTITUDE AND HEADING INDICATORS. THE PILOT CONTINUED FLYING FOR A WHILE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS ALTITUDE, AIRSPEED, OR HEADING. AT ABOUT 2109, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE SAW THE PLANE GO IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS WHICH HE ESTIMATED WERE ABOUT 100 FT HIGH. HE SAID THE PLANE THEN CIRCLED FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES, WHILE IT WAS CLIMBING AND DIVING. ALSO, HE STATED HE SAW THE PLANE JUST AS IT CAME OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND GO INTO THE TREES ABOUT 600 YARDS FROM HIS POSITION. OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE BEECH J35 INCLUDES VACUUM-OPERATED DIRECTIONAL & ATTITUDE GYROS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Gary IN at 7:04 pm
- Destination: Owensboro IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.