What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)On August 24,2007, at 1227 mountain standard time, a Raytheon Cobra unmanned aircraft system (UAS), N605RN, was destroyed when it collided with terrain in an uncontrolled descent, near Whetstone, Arizona. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Raytheon company of tucson, Arizona. The ground based flight crew was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR, part 91 test flight, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft had departed from a private airstrip used for UAS testing and was entering the traffic pattern for landing at the airstrip when the accident occurred. Information provided by the operator, the purposes of the day's flights were to evaluate a software upgrade to the autopilot system, continue evaluation of the automatic takeoff and landing system, and conduct pilot training. Three pilots were involved in the operation: a flight instructor, a student pilot, and a supplemental pilot (external). Additionally, an observer was present. The accident occurred on the eighth flight of the day. See attached.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)ON AUGUST 24,2007, AT 1227 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A RAYTHEON COBRA UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS), N605RN, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, NEAR WHETSTONE, ARIZONA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY RAYTHEON COMPANY OF TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE GROUND BASED FLIGHT CREW WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CFR, PART 91 TEST FLIGHT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP USED FOR UAS TESTING AND WAS ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AT THE AIRSTRIP WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OPERATOR, THE PURPOSES OF THE DAY'S FLIGHTS WERE TO EVALUATE A SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM, CONTINUE EVALUATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TAKEOFF AND LANDING SYSTEM, AND CONDUCT PILOT TRAINING. THREE PILOTS WERE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION: A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, A STUDENT PILOT, AND A SUPPLEMENTAL PILOT (EXTERNAL). ADDITIONALLY, AN OBSERVER WAS PRESENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE EIGHTH FLIGHT OF THE DAY. SEE ATTACHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.