# Accident 20110521009269A: Palmer Joe A RV6A, Cody, WY, May 21, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2011, 14:30 local time
- Place: Cody, WY
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0300° N, 109.7469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0300&lon=-109.7469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52VC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52VC-2012-11-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Palmer Joe A RV6A (registry code 0561542, https://openairdocs.org/model/palmer-joe-a-rv6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PALMER JOE A RV6A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 140 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA233) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110521009269A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR11LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA233), May 21, 2011: Palmer RV6A (N52VC), Cody, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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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