Beech BE-23 accident near Grimes, Iowa, December 31, 1983
On December 31, 1983 at about 1:28 am local time, a Beech BE-23, registered N9225S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grimes, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- December 31, 1983 · about 1:28 am local time
- Place
- Grimes, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-23
- Registration
- N9225S · no longer on the register · serial M-1722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER ENGINE FAILURE DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE QUIT AS HE APPROACHED DES MOINES. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION TO THE ACFT. THE ACFT HAD ADEQUATE FUEL ABOARD FOR CONTINUED FLT.
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: 339 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 299 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y53 River Falls WI at 10:30 pm
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Observation at 2:38 am from DSM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.