# NTSB DEN86FA146: Bauer'S Mitchell Wing U-2, N3967S, Cheyenne, WY, May 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1986, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.139263, -104.79058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1393&lon=-104.7906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16824
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16824/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA146

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate training(emergency procedure(s)), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - panic, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT ACFT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. THE ACFT WAS THEN SEEN TO STALL AND ENTER A RIGHT SPIN. WITNESSES SAID THE PLT RECOVERED BUT ENTERED A SECOND STALL AND DOVE STRAIGHT INTO GROUND. NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME, ENG, PROP, OR FLT CONTROL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND. ENG WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND RAN NORMALLY. PLT HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTION IN STALL/SPIN RECOVERY. PLT HAD LOGGED 7 HRS IN ACFT AND WAS MAKING 5TH FLT WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8157 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3967S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3967S-1988-08-15), registration cancelled 1988-08-15, S/N U462 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BAUER'S MITCHELL WING U-2
- Registry model: [Bauer Edward J MITCHELL WING U2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bauer-edward-j-mitchell-wing-u2) (registry code 05666C8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: U-462
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: CUYUNA 440 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Joseph Bauer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 1985, 7 hours before
- Departed: CYS, CHEYENNE, WY
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 247 total, 7 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS, 3 nm away

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.