Beech C35 accident near Salida, Colorado, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N12370, was destroyed in an accident near Salida, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 23, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salida, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N12370 · registry record · serial D-3369
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN IN A CONTROLLED CRASH SITUATION WITH FULL FLAPS AND FULL POWER AT THE 11,312 FT LEVEL THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 12,370 FT MSL. THE PLT WAS AWARE THAT THE WEATHER WAS QUESTIONABLE IN SOME AREAS OF HIS ROUTE AND THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED. THE PLT TOLD THE FSS AT GRAND JUNCTION AFTER A WEATHER BRIEFING THAT HE WOULD GO AND FLT CHECK THE WEATHER IN THE AREA AND CALL FSS BACK. AFTER TAKEOFF THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLT. THE PLT GAVE SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF HIS DIFFICULTIES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE NONE OF WHICH COULD BE VERIFIED. THE PLTSACCOUNT OF A LIGHTING STRIKE AND AIRFRAME FAILURE WERE NOT EVIDENCED BY WRECKAGE EXAMINATION OR BY WITNESSES WHO SAW THEACFT CIRCLING THE VALLEY WEST OF THE TRAIL THEY WERE HORSEBACK RIDING ON. THE PLT SAID HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. HE TURNED INTO THE HILLSIDE, LOWERED FLAPS, APPLIED FULL POWER AND SETTLED INTO THE TREES. ALL 4 OCCUPANTS GOT OUT WITH MINOR OR NO INJURIES.
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: 289 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 239 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1982; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 5:45 pm
- Destination: IV5 Boulder CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from GUC, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.