# NTSB LAX01LA280: Humphreys Stitts SA6B, N5628, Elko, NV, August 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2001, 08:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Coordinates: 40.950317, -115.789054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9503&lon=-115.7891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Reno Flt Stnds Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53041/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA280 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot-in-command to reverse course in a timely manner after flying into a box canyon. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft and the local terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - stall/mush - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - blind/box canyon - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The first pilot maneuvered into a mountain canyon and the owner/student second pilot expressed his reservations. The canyon was a "box" canyon and the terrain rose faster that the 100-horsepower airplane could climb. The first pilot attempted, too late, to reverse course and, as they were turning to fly back down the canyon, the airplane shook in pre-stall buffet while about 5 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the nose and they crashed. In his report to the Safety Board, in the section on recommendations for preventing the accident, the first pilot wrote "more familiarity with terrain and aircraft performance." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft and that the accident site elevation was approximately 7,200 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2001, at 0825 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Humphreys Stitts SA6B, N5628, impacted mountainous terrain and burned in the Ruby Mountains, 20 mile east of Elko, Nevada. The commercial certificated pilot was seriously injured and the student pilot certificated second pilot received minor injuries. The amateur-built airplane was destroyed. The local area personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from Elko at 0728. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The second (student) pilot had recently purchased the airplane and planned to fly it solo on the morning of the accident. He told an inspector from the Reno, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office that the first pilot landed in Elko that morning in an air taxi/cargo aircraft and asked if he could go flying with the student pilot. According to the student pilot/owner, he was letting the other pilot fly the airplane. The first pilot maneuvered into a mountain canyon and the owner/student pilot expressed his reservations. The canyon was a "box" canyon and the terrain rose faster that the 100-horsepower airplane could climb. The first pilot attempted, too late, to reverse course and, as they were turning to fly back down the canyon, the airplane shook in pre-stall buffet while about 5 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the nose and they crashed. In his report to the Safety Board, in the section on recommendations for preventing the accident, the first pilot wrote "more familiarity with terrain and aircraft performance." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft, and that the accident site elevation was approximately 7,200 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5628](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5628-2002-01-09), registration cancelled 2002-01-09, S/N 83072, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Humphreys Stitts SA6B - Registry model: [Humphreys STITTS SA6B](https://openairdocs.org/model/humphreys-stitts-sa6b) (registry code 8650913) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 83072 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard M. Bouge - Registered owner: David Wallace - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EKO, Elko, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 14, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,672 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,408 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 48; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: EKO, 20 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 20010816022289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010816022289A), Aug 16, 2001: Amtr STITSSA6B, Elko, NV, Destroyed. (-23) While flying up a canyon at a low altitude (AGL) the pilot, mr wenger, attempted a left turn in an attempt to fly back out of the canyon. At this time… 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.