# NTSB SEA94LA150: Schell RV-6A, N48TS, Crowheart, WY, June 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1994, 18:00 local (Jun 17, 1994, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Crowheart, WY - Coordinates: 43.310634, -109.189956 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3106&lon=-109.1900&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 January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA150 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48TS-1994-11-25), registration cancelled 1994-11-25, S/N TNS1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHELL RV-6A - Registry model: [Schell Timothy N VANS ACFT RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schell-timothy-n-vans-acft-rv-6a) (registry code 05622EV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: TNS-1 - Airframe hours: 98 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schell, Timothy N. - Registered owner: Schell, Timothy N - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, August 2, 1993, 98 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,101 total, 98 in this make and model, 1,813 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIW, 40 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 19940616015459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940616015459A), Jun 16, 1994: Amtr RV6A, Crowheart, WY, Destroyed. Sightseeing flight in mountains. Strong downdraft slammed aircraft into ground. 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.