West Jordan - Spanish Fork

On August 20, 1983 at 08:55 AM, West Jordan - Spanish Fork experienced a crash involving Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I, operated by Ralph Anderson, with the event recorded near West Jordan Utah.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Investigation revealed that the pilot aborted two takeoff attempts due to a 'roughness' in one engine. Not able to duplicate the roughness during subsequent ground checks, the pilot departed. At an altitude of 300 feet agl the left engine began to surge and the right engine, according to the pilot, 'seemed to be delivering no power either and I could feel the plane decelerating.' The pilot stated he turned the aircraft to miss a housing development. A witness stated that the left wing dropped and the aircraft dove into the ground at about 45° angle. Investigation failed to reveal any reason for loss of engine power. Both passengers were seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N2239Q, MSN 421A-0039, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.6061°, -111.9395°.