# NTSB DEN78FA040: Beech D50C, N320Z, Wheatland, WY, May 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 4, 1978
- Place: Wheatland, WY · WHEATLAND, WY
- Location: 42.0517° N, 104.9595° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wheatland, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0517&lon=-104.9595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2687   78/5/4  NR.WHEATLAND,WY       BEECH D50C          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 456
        TIME - 1502                    N320Z               PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 53 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHEYENNE,WY                 LIVINGSTON,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      SNOW SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PILOT REPORT OF MODERATE TO SEVERE RIME ICE GIVEN TO PILOT BEFORE TAKEOFF AND IN AIR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N320Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N320Z-2009-10-09), registration cancelled 2009-10-09, S/N DH-281, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D50C
- Registry model: [Beech D50C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50c) (registry code 1152520) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780504032359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780504032359A), May 4, 1978: Beech D50C, Wheatland, WY, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot report of moderate to severe rime ice given to pilot beforeeoff and in air.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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