SEA94LA150

The pilot and passenger departed on a local sightseeing flight into mountainous terrain. During the flight they encountered strong wind conditions and the pilot decided to return to his ranch and land. The passenger reported that during the course reversal a gust of wind slammed the aircraft to the ground.

On June 16, 1994, approximately 1800 hours mountain daylight time (mdt), a Schell RV-6A homebuilt aircraft, N48TS, registered to and being flown by Timothy N. Schell, a commercially certificated instrument pilot, was destroyed during a collision with mountainous terrain while executing a course reversal approximately five nautical miles west of Crowheart, Wyoming. The pilot and passenger sustained minor and serious injuries respectively. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with 14CFR91, and originated from the pilot's ranch near Crowheart approximately 1700 local.

The pilot reported that he and the passenger departed on a local sightseeing flight and that he "flew toward a neighbor's private place + strip that was closer to the mountains." He stated that he had no recollections thereafter until after the crash.

The passenger reported that "we made a 180 degree turn and was (sic) going back to the ranch when the crash occurred", that the "winds had become very gusty. That was why we decided to return to the ranch", and that "there was no time for either one of us to make any comments to each other. We made the turn to go back to the ranch, something seemed to hit the side of the plane, then we crashed." He also reported that "the engine sounded fine."

The passenger was also telephonically interviewed by the Investigator in Charge and stated that during the flight the pilot was flying through "mountain ranges" and the winds were "really strong." Additionally, he stated that due to the winds the pilot decided to return to his ranch and that during the course reversal a gust of wind slammed the aircraft to the ground (refer to photographs 01/02 and CHART I).