LAX83FA090

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 58 · Indio, CA · February 4, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 4, 1983, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Indio, CA
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N1586WBeech 58
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830204070559A
Case key
23420

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Terrain condition - high terrainFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Flight into known adverse weather - continuedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - risingFactor

Analysis

The plt & passenger had flown from bermuda dunes to yucca valley, CA on a business flt. Reportedly, they terminated their business early because wx was building over the mountains between yucca valley & bermuda dunes. While on the return trip, the plt reported that he had proceeded to a point where he had berumda dunes in sight, but elected to divert back to the high desert arpt (near yucca valley) to obtain fuel. At aprx 1420 PST, the plt & passenger took off again for bermuda dunes. Subsequently, the acft impacted resing terrain near the top of a mountain ridge along the expected route. Several sources reported that the wx had deteriorated in the vicinity of the crash site. The owner of the high desert arpt stated that when the acft departed after refueling, the wx towards palm springs was IFR. The owner of a helicopter ag operation near desert hot springs, stated that the wx build-up over the mountains was not conducive to VFR flt operations.

Aircraft

Registration
N1586W
Reported as
Beech 58
Category
Airplane
Serial number
TH-238
Airframe hours
1,315
Engine
Continental IO-520-C, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
J.R. Husham
Registered owner
J.H. Lake & J.R. Husham
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 4, 1982
Departed
L-22 · Yucca Valley, CA
Destination
UDD · Bermuda Dunes, CA

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
47
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.