# Accident 19970613014169A: Stolam RC3, Monument Valley, UT, June 13, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 13, 1997, 15:00 local time
- Place: Monument Valley, UT
- Airport: Monument Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0809° N, 110.2508° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0809&lon=-110.2508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6290K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6290K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Republic RC-3-1 (registry code 3080203, https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STOLAM RC3
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,396 total, 103 in this make and model, 115 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970613014169A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. (.4)THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH THE WIND BLOWING AT 30 KNOTS AND GUSTING TO 45 KNOTS. REPORTEDLY, THE WIND WAS BLOWING THROUGH LARGE ROCK FORMATIONS NEAR THE AIRPORT, THE WIND DIRECTION WAS CONSTANTLY VARYING, AND STRONG DOWNDRAFTS WERE BEING CREATED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, IT FELT LIKE IT HAD FLOWN INTO A STRONG DOWNDRAFT, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT FROM DESCENDING INTO THE TERRAIN.

## 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 SEA97LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA140), Jun 13, 1997: Republic RC-3-1 (N6290K), Monument Valley, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planing/preparation, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from the terrain. Factors relating to the accident included: high, gusty, variable…

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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