# NTSB DEN78FA059: Beech 55, N978V, Fairfield, UT, August 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 13, 1978
- Place: Fairfield, UT · FAIRFIELD, UT
- Location: 40.2360° N, 112.0752° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairfield, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2360&lon=-112.0752&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139316
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3457  78/8/13  NR.FAIRFIELD,UT       BEECH 55            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 2704
        TIME - 2135                    N978V               PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 883 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           LAS VEGAS,NV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  6500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT NOT EQUIPPED WITH WING,TAIL,OR PROP DEICING EQUIPMENT.MINIMUM OF 1.3IN AFT OF REARWARD CG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N978V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N978V-1980-01-09), registration cancelled 1980-01-09, S/N TC-2038 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 55
- Registry model: [Beech B-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-55) (registry code 1152729) (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 19780813037829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780813037829A), Aug 13, 1978: Beech A56TC, Fairfield, UT, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Acft not equipped with wing,tail,or prop deicing equipment. Minimu 1.3IN aft of rearward CG.

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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