Beech C23 accident near Near Vichy, Missouri, December 4, 1982
On December 4, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N60171, was destroyed in an accident near Near Vichy, Missouri. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- December 4, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Vichy, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N60171 · no longer on the register · serial M-2148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE FROM CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO TO ROLLA, MO, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF LOW CEILINGS AND FOG. WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO REMAIN VFR AT LOW ALTITUDE, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON TOP OF A HILL. THE PILOT CLIMBED ABRUPTLY, BUT THE PLANE STALLED, ENTERED A SPIN, THEN CRASHED. NINE MILES AWAY, THE 1256 CST WEATHER AT VICHY, MO WAS: INDEFINITE CEILING, 200 FT OBSCURED, 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG, TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT 56 DEGREES, WIND FROM 110 DEGREES AT 8 KTS, ALTIMETER 29.82. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT REQUESTED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT HAD RELIED ON INFORMATION FROM AN UNOFFICIAL SOURCE.
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: 1,862 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 1,862 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,870 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGI Cape Girardeau MO at 10:45 am
- Destination: K04 Rolla MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.