- Date
- December 21, 1991, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lysite, WY
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N71ATArtic S-1B2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 7, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911221060529A
- Case key
- 41618
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were rising terrain, downdrafts, and the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while on an aerial survey of game the aircraft encountered a headwind but little turbulence. Upon approaching a ridge he executed a right turn to reverse course during which a severe downdraft was encountered. The pilot reported applying full power and attempting to establish best angle of climb during which the aircraft impacted the terrain. The pilot reported the winds at the accident site as 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N71AT
- Reported as
- Artic S-1B2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1022
- Airframe hours
- 3,265
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Sky Aviation Corporation
- Registered owner
- Sky Aviation Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 25, 1991 · 67 hours before
- Departed
- WRL · Worland, WY
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 42
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 7,400 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 7,340 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 7 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- WRL, 29 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.
Other investigations on N71AT · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.