Cessna TRI82 accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, May 20, 1983
On May 20, 1983 at about 7:12 pm local time, a Cessna TRI82, registered N757SP, was destroyed in an accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Fanning airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1983 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Fanning
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TRI82
- Registration
- N757SP · registry record · serial R18201261
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AFTER THE PLT STARTED TO MAKE A TURN AT APRX 500 FT AGL. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS RETRACTED. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT SLID APRX 100 YARDS, THEN STOPPED IN A CANAL. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD JUST RECEIVED MAINTENANCE ON THE MAGNETOS FOR COMPLIANCE OF AN AD WHICH REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF A GEAR. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT A RETAINING SCREW FOR THE CAM IN THE MAGNETO WAS LOOSE. REPORTEDLY, THE PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SHOULDER HARNESS & RECEIVED A FRACTURED STERNUM & MULTIPLE BRUISES, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE HEAD.
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: 1,398 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,331 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 348 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1982; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AFT Afton WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,157 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from IDA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA83LA102.