- Date
- September 27, 1991, 18:10 local (Sep 28, 1991, 00:10 UTC)
- Place
- Kaycee, WY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5505HBellanca 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910927043489A
- Case key
- 41551
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Inadequate clearance with the vehicle and the pilot's failure to obtain proper assistance for the takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were 1) the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, 2) the vehicle, and 3) high density altitude conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After landing on a paved road, the pilot secured the aid of a rancher to assist in takeoff. High density altitude conditions existed at the time which reduced the aircraft's takeoff performance. The pilot did not establish clear procedures with the rancher to insure that the roadway would be clear for a sufficient length for takeoff. Nor did he establish clear communication procedures to be used prior to the takeoff evolution. The pilot observed a hand signal from the rancher which he perceived to be a go ahead for his departure and during the takeoff roll he encountered a vehicle drawn trailer on the road in his ground path. He attempted to climb and turn away from the vehicle and then maneuver away from terrain, however, adequate clearance was not available to insure the aircraft would clear the trailer. The aircraft's left wingtip impacted the trailer and a loss of control and ground collision followed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5505H
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1038-78
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Walter A. Kupferschmidt
- Registered owner
- Walter A. Kupferschmidt
- Departed
- GCC · Gillette, WY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 874 total · 498 in this make and model · 874 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 90° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- CPR, 51 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.