Beech C-50 accident near Nephi, Utah, May 6, 1983
On May 6, 1983 at about 5:08 am local time, a Beech C-50, registered N322V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nephi, Utah. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 6, 1983 · about 5:08 am local time
- Place
- Nephi, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-50 · all C-50s on the register
- Registration
- N322V · registry record · serial CH-157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ROCKS AND SAGEBRUSH DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED INDUCTION AND AIRFRAME ICING DURING CRUISE. THE PILOTS WEATHER BRIEFING FORECAST THE ICING WHICH HE ENCOUNTERED. THE BRIEFING TOOK PLACE ABOUT 12 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE. THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANOTHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. WHEN THEPILOT EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE DURING CRUISE IN ICING CONDITIONS HE SUSPECTED INDUCTION ICING. THE ALTERNATE AIR DOORS WERE FROZEN. WHEN THE PILOT FREED THEM THERE WAS A SMALL BANGING SOUND IN THE ENGINES. HE RADIOED THE ARTCC AT SALT LAKE CITY THE HE HAD ICING AND WAS 'DROPPING LIKE A ROCK'. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A SAGE BRUSH CLEARING. THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT MANUAL SHOULD BE CHANGED. 'IT STATES THAT CARB ICE IS RARE AND IS CORRECTED BY ALTERNATE AIR. IT DOES NOT INDICATE THAT AFTER THE ICE FORMS IT IS TOO LATE TO RESTORE POWER'.
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
- Flight time: 1,440 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 1,144 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,800 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 3:00 am
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: overcast at 50 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.