On September 13, 1982, a Cessna 310P (registration N5836M) operated by Kubo Sadeo was involved in an aviation accident near Wendover, UT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot became disoriented while flying from Salt Lake City to Wendover, descended to 8,000 ft to avoid ice and hail, and could not receive navigation signals. The aircraft struck terrain as the pilot attempted to locate his position.
Incident Description
The pilot reported becoming disoriented during a flight from Salt Lake City to Wendover. He descended to an altitude of 8,000 ft to remain clear of ice and hail. While at that altitude, he could not receive a navigational signal from either the Wendover or Bonneville navigational facility. As he attempted to establish his position using a sectional chart, the aircraft descended into terrain.
Investigation Findings
According to the investigation, no malfunctions were found with the en route navigational facilities at Bonneville or Wendover. The minimum en route altitude to receive a reliable signal between Salt Lake City and Wendover is 9,000 ft. The pilot's descent to 8,000 ft placed him below this minimum, which prevented reception of the navigational signals.