# NTSB WPR23LA099: Beech C23, N23FD, Rich County, UT, January 25, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 24, 2023, 17:45 local (Jan 25, 2023, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Rich County, UT · Coordinates provided pilot from accident site - Coordinates: 41.395014, -111.3972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3950&lon=-111.3972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106647/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106647 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude following an encounter with turbulence and adverse wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C23, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Beech C23, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she encountered unexpected winds while flying at night. After multiple encounters with strong wind gusts and turbulence, the pilot lost control of the airplane and it started to spin downward. She was able to successfully recover from the spin, but was forced to search for a suitable landing site as she was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot executed a forced landing in an open snow-covered area and the airplane stopped abruptly, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23FD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23FD), registered now, S/N M-1663 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C23 - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1663 - Airframe hours: 1674.87 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2022, 89.84 hours before - Departed: KEVW, Evanston, UT - Destination: TWF, Twin Falls, ID - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 689.5 total, 28.6 in this make and model, 68.6 in the last 90 days, 32.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 220° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KEVW, 18 nm away - METAR: METAR KEVW 250153Z AUTO 22013KT 10SM FEW015 SCT025 BKN100 M11/M12 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP302 T11061122 $= ## 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 20230124000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230124000779A), Jan 24, 2023: Beech C23, Woodfuff, UT, Substantial damage. On January 25 at about 0145 zulu time a BE23, [privacy data omitted], after checking several weather sources, encountered severe turbulence and strong winds… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106647. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15478718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20combined_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15479363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.