Cessna 414A accident near Murtaugh, Idaho, December 7, 1986
On December 7, 1986 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N37561, was destroyed in an accident near Murtaugh, Idaho (Joslin Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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 7, 1986 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Murtaugh, Idaho · Joslin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N37561 · registry record · serial 414A0007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TRANSITION FROM A DME ARC TO THE ILS FINAL APCH COURSE, THE PLT ALLOWED THE ACFT TO PREMATURELY DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. THE REASON FOR THE DESCENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HOWEVER, NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE ACFT WAS FOUND NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE SUPPORTING PLT INCAPACITATION. DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS IN FOG AND LOW CEILINGS PREVAILED DURING THE APCH.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,680 hours in all; 618 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,487 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 1985; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SUN Sun Valley ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:09 am from TWF, 11 miles away
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.