# Accident 19961012031969A: Amtr RV6A, Hurricane, UT, October 12, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 1996, 06:24 local time
- Place: Hurricane, UT
- Airport: Grassy Meadows
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0408° N, 113.2101° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0408&lon=-113.2101&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16DK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16DK-1997-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Keith Dennis RV6A (registry code 056237C, https://openairdocs.org/model/keith-dennis-rv6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RV6A
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 1,133 total, 74 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961012031969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DEPARTED DARK NIGHT SANS RUNWAY LIGHTS. PILOT HAD A NO FLY DRUG IN SYSTEM IMPAIRED PERFORMANCE HEAD COLD DRUG. (.19)  ON OCTOBER 12, 1996, APPROXIMATELY 0624 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A KEITH VANS RV-6A, N16DK, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER TAKEOFF FROM GRASSY MEADOWS SKY RANCH, A PRIVATE AIRPORT SOUTH OF HURRICANE, UTAH.  THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND THE PRIVATE PILOT (WHO OWNED AND HAD BUILT THE EXPERIMENTAL-CATEGORY AIRCRAFT, ACCORDING TO THE FAA'S AIRCRAFT REGISTRY) AND A PASSENGER WERE KILLED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS ENROUTE FROM GRASSY MEADOWS TO THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION (EAA) COPPERSTATE REGIONAL FLY-IN AT WILLIAMS GATEWAY AIRPORT, PHOENIX, ARIZONA.  DARK NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA97LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA013), Oct 12, 1996: Keith Vans RV-6A (N16DK), Hurricane, UT, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to drugs (diphenhydramine) which led to spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were: dark night…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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