Beech E55 accident near Bridgeport, California, February 28, 1983
On February 28, 1983 at about 10:27 pm local time, a Beech E55, registered N17993, was destroyed in an accident near Bridgeport, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- February 28, 1983 · about 10:27 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech E55 · all E55s on the register
- Registration
- N17993 · no longer on the register · serial TE-1100
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RECORDED TRANSCRIPT BETWEEN THE PLT AND THE RENO FSS SPECIALIST REVEALS THAT THE PLT WAS AWARE OF MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS BELOW 18000 FEET AND REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT REPORTED ICING CONDITIONS AND DOWNDRAFTS IN FLT AND STATED THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABT 21 MILES WEST/NORTHWEST OF BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,246 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 549 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1982; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 9:43 pm
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from TVL, 36 miles away
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.