Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Challis, Idaho, November 5, 1983
On November 5, 1983 at about 7:20 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N9006, was destroyed in an accident near Challis, Idaho. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people were killed. 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
- November 5, 1983 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N9006 · registry record · serial 271
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM THE SIMPLOT RANCH AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS LOCATED BESIDE THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER, APRX 27 MI NORTHWEST OF CHALLIS, ID. HE DEPARTED DOWNRIVER TOWARD THE NORTHEAST, BUT THE DESTINATION WAS A USFS STRIP ABOUT 7 MI UPRIVER TO THE SOUTHWEST. A COURSE REVERSAL NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT 6 MI DOWNRIVER. HOWEVER, A TURN- AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED OVER A RELATIVELY SHALLOW (BENCH) AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, ABOUT 1-1/4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE STRIP; WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE BENCH AREA WHILE ON A WESTERLY HEADING. IT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FORWARD VELOCITY, BUT WITH SEVERE VERTICAL COLLAPSE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,150 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,590 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1983; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Unlimited
The flight
- Destination: Mahoney Creek ID
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 SEA84MA016.