Cessna 150K accident near Near Challis, Idaho, October 31, 1983
On October 31, 1983 at about 4:57 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5631G, was destroyed in an accident near Near Challis, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- October 31, 1983 · about 4:57 pm local time
- Place
- Near Challis, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5631G · no longer on the register · serial 150-71131
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS AT THE CHALLIS ARPT OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKEOFF, THEN TURN & DEPART TOWARD THE WEST. IT WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY NEAR CHALLIS CREEK ABOUT 16 MI WEST OF CHALLIS. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A RELATIVELY FLAT AREA IN A NARROW WOODED VALLEY, AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 7,400 FT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD TURNED & WAS HEADED TOWARD THE CREEK WHEN IT CRASHED. FOREST SERVICE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS & VALLEY IN THAT AREA WERE COVERED WITH FOG.
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: 82 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: U15 Challis ID at 4:57 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Observation at 2:30 pm from U15, 12 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.