20110521009269A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Palmer Joe A RV6A · Cody, WY · May 21, 2011

Date: May 21, 2011 · 14:30 local
Place: Cody, WY
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N52VC
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR11LA233
Reported as: Palmer Joe A RV6A
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total140 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N52VCRegistration cancelled Nov 28, 2012 · Palmer Joe A RV6AS/N 24642 · Built 2003 Airframe modelPalmer Joe A RV6A Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 05/21/2011, at 1430 MDT, N52VC, a vans RV-6A amateur-built airplane impacted a mountain valley snow-field at approximately 10,600 feet MSL. The two persons on board sustained serious injuries. The aircraft damage is unknown. The weather at the time was blowing snow.

As the FAA filed it

ON 05/21/2011, AT 1430 MDT, N52VC, A VANS RV-6A AMATEUR-BUILT AIRPLANE IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN VALLEY SNOW-FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 10,600 FEET MSL. THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS BLOWING SNOW.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR11LA233Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCody, WYThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s visual illusion and disorientation due to the flat light conditions.May 21, 2011 · Substantial damage