# NTSB DEN85FA074: Beech BE-23-24, N5781V, Eureka, UT, February 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1985, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Eureka, UT
- Coordinates: 39.939311, -112.129737 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9393&lon=-112.1297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA074

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - light condition - daylight
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON FEB 6, 1985,A BEECH BE-23-24 MUSKETEER,OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PLT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A 7000 FT MTN AT THE 6700 FT LEVEL.  THE AC WAS DEMOLISHED AND THE PLT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE WX CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AS VMC BY PROVO, UTAH AND BY A LOCAL PLT IN THE AREA AT THE TIME. BOTH INDICATED THAT THE MTN TOPS WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF AN AC MALFUNCTION OR PLT IN-CAPACITATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5781V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-23-24
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MA-40
- Airframe hours: 3083
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A2B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Andrew B. Olerain
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1984, 23 hours before
- Departed: U42, WEST JORDAN, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 791 total, 791 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 25 nm away

## 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 19850206075379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850206075379A), Feb 6, 1985: Beech A2324, Eureka, UT, Destroyed. Combination of overcast sky, haze and snow on the ground obscured the mountain. Flew into the side of a mountain.

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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