# NTSB DEN85FTE07: Richard A. White Glasair SH-2, N39RW, Rawlins, WY, August 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1985, 09:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: Rawlins, WY
- Coordinates: 41.780059, -107.219177 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7801&lon=-107.2192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FTE07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16565/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FTE07

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - supervision - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation(loss of consciousness), pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW HIGH VELOCITY IMPACT WITH THE ENG OPERATING AT LOW PWR BY THE SIGNATURES ON THE PROP. THE RADAR PLOT SHOWS THAT THE FLIGHT DESCENDED FROM APRX 15000 FT TO ABOUT 10000 FT IN APRX 1 MINUTE. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN A HIGH SPEED HIGH RATE OF DESCENT SPIRAL WHICH CHANGED TO A HIGH SPEED STALL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT AS NDICATED BY GRND CONTACT MARKS AND WRECKAGE CLUES  THERE WAS A BROKEN CLOUD DECK AT APRX 4000 FT AGL. FRIENDS OF THE PLT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD HAVE CONSCIOUSLY CLIMBED TO ABOVE 15000 FT WITHOUT OXYGEN, LEADING TO A CONCLUSION OF PLT INCAPACITATION PRIOR TO THE CLIMB AND CRASH. ATTEMPTED CONTROL INPUTS FROM THE WIFE COULD HAVE ALTERED THE ACFT PERFORMANCE AFTER PIC INCAPACITATION. DUE TO THE ACC TRAUMA NO CONCUSIONS WERE DRAWN FROM THE PLTS    NREMAINS DURING ATUOPSY. THE FLT PATTERN IS THE MAIN EVIDENCE OF LACK OF PLT INPUT DURING THE FINAL MINUTES OF FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39RW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RICHARD A. WHITE GLASAIR SH-2 (GLASAIR SH)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 177
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: BFF, SCOTTSBLUFF, NE
- Destination: CCR, CONCORD BUCHANA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RWL, 22 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850809048339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850809048339A), Aug 9, 1985: Amtr GLASAIR, Rawlins, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted ground in flat spin from FL150. Aircraft not equipped with oxygen. No mechanical problems found.

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.

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