SEA89LA187

The pilot departed on a cross-country flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane but did not arrive at his intended destination and was reported missing. A search of the area did not locate airplane wreckage and was suspended. Almost 3 years after the accident, the wreckage was subsequently located in remote terrain about 11 miles northeast of the flight’s intended destination. At that time, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was not notified that the wreckage was located. In October 2018, an individual reported to the NTSB that he had located the door of the accident airplane. No other wreckage was located. The cause of the accident is undetermined due to the lack of evidence.

On September 2, 1989, at an unknown time, an experimental, amateur-built Wittman Tailwind W10 airplane, N62JE, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near McCall, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane departed Lemhi County Airport (SMN), Salmon Idaho, destined for McCall Municipal Airport (MYL), McCall, Idaho. The pilot did not arrive at his intended destination and was reported missing on September 6, 1989, by a family member. An air search was conducted but was suspended about September 15, 1989, and the wreckage was not located at that time.

According to an August 6, 1992, Post Bulletin news article, the wreckage of the airplane flown by the pilot was initially found by a hunter in 1991; searchers on horseback located the wreckage in June 1992 in a remote area of the Payette National Forest near Fitsum Creek, about 14 miles from the confluence of the South Fork of the Salmon River and the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River. The article revealed that pilot remains were found. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was not notified at that time that the wreckage was located.

On October 4, 2018, an individual notified the NTSB that he had located what he believed was the door of the missing airplane. A photograph of the door indicated “Jim Evans” and “Experimental.” The individual did not note that he had located any other wreckage.

The accident site location appeared to be at an elevation of about 6,800 ft and about 11 miles northeast of McCall, which is about 95 nautical miles southwest of Salmon. The terrain along the straight-line route of flight between Salmon and McCall is between 9,000 and 10,000 ft mean sea level.

There was no record found that the pilot received a weather briefing, and he did not file a flight plan. There were no air traffic services provided.

An account of the pilot’s total flight time and experience was not available. The airplane was purchased by and registered to the pilot on June 21, 1989. The airplane and engine total time, along with maintenance information, was not located.