Cessna 140A accident near Sevier, Utah, August 11, 1983
On August 11, 1983 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 140A, registered N5301C, was destroyed in an accident near Sevier, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- August 11, 1983 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Sevier, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140A · all 140As on the register
- Registration
- N5301C · no longer on the register · serial 15421
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS RETURNING TO SAN JOSE,CA AFTER AN EXTENDED X-COUNTRY FLT TO OSHKOSH,WI WHICH BEGAN IN THE LATTER PART OF JULY. EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, AT 0645, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AT MILES CITY,MT. HE REQUESTED THE GENERAL OUTLOOK TO THE GRAND CANYON & ARIZONA AREA & WAS TOLD OF LARGE BUILDUPS IN WESTERN AZ & NV, FORECAST TO MOVE NE.THE PLT DEPARTED AT 0712 & MADE ENROUTE STOPS AT RIVERTON,WY & ROCK SPRINGS,WY. AT 1845, OVER VERNAL,UT, THE PLT REQUESTED A WX UPDATE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT THE 8,700 FT LEVEL. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.093%. THE PLT WAS NOT A CFI BUT HAD GIVEN THE STUDENT PLT 29 HRS OF DUAL. HIS LOGBOOK SHOWED THAT HE HAD ALSO GIVEN FLT INSTRUCTION TO OTHER STUDENT PLTS. ON 1/5/83 THE PLT'S DRIVERS LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. HIS BAC WAS REPORTEDLY 0.093%.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 419 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,244 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1983; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 11:45 pm
- Destination: PGA Page AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from CDC, 54 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.