SEA97FA033

History of flight

On December 8, 1996, at about 1225 mountain standard time, a Beech B36TC, N3000R, registered to and operated by the pilot, collided with a 10,741 foot peak located approximately 11 miles southeast of Jackson, Wyoming. Visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane had departed from Aspen, Colorado, about two hours and 25 minutes before the accident.

Shortly after the pilot's last transmission with Salt Lake City, Utah, Air Traffic Control Center, an emergency locator transmitter was detected in the Jackson area. A search and rescue mission began and the airplane was located at 0845 on December 9, 1996. The Teton County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident site and reported that it appeared that the airplane collided with a 10,741 foot peak approximately 200 feet below the top on the southeast side. The collision created an avalanche and the airplane slid down another 300 feet before coming to rest partially buried in the snow.

Personnel information

At the time of the accident, the pilot held a private pilot certificate and was rated in single-engine land airplanes and for instrument flight. The pilot's flight logbook was not located, however, during the pilot's last FAA medical evaluation on December 15, 1995, the pilot indicated a total flight time of 950 hours.

Flight Safety International, Wichita, Kansas, records indicate that the pilot satisfactorily completed the Bonanza Pilot Initial Training program on November 1, 1996. At this time the pilot was signed off for a flight review, recent flight experience, and an instrument competency check. The program consisted of training for the powerplant, fuel system, electrical system, weight and balance, performance, pitot-static system, pneumatics, ice and rain protection systems, environmental and air conditioning systems, oxygen system, flight control, landing gear and brakes, and general aircraft information. Both simulator and flight training are part of the course.

Aircraft information

Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registration records indicate that the aircraft was registered to the pilot on February 23, 1996. Aircraft maintenance records indicate that the pilot accumulated a total flight time of approximately 220 hours since the date of purchase.

Communications

At 1011, the pilot contacted Denver Flight watch and reported that he had just departed from Aspen, Colorado, and was en route to Jackson, Wyoming. The pilot requested the Jackson weather. The controller reported that the current weather en route was clear below 12,000 feet and the visibility was unrestricted until Jackson. Jackson was reporting visibility of one mile and the ceiling was 200 feet and overcast. The temperature was zero, and the wind was from 240 degrees at 12 knots. The forecast indicated occasional moderate turbulence up to 18,000 feet. Sigmets forecast moderate or greater turbulence through 16,000 feet and western Wyoming was forecasting occasional moderate mixed icing below 20,000 feet. Mountain obscurement was forecast for the Tetons and west into Jackson. The controller informed the pilot that a Kingair reported a trace of icing during descent into Jackson and stated that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended over northwestern Wyoming.

The controller asked the pilot if he wanted a forecast, and the pilot responded that he did. The controller informed the pilot of mountain obscurement, scattered layers of clouds, and widely scattered snow showers. The terminal forecast for Jackson at the pilot's time of arrival at about 1200, indicated that the wind was forecast from 230 degrees at 14 knots and gusting to 22 knots. Scattered and broken ceilings were forecast with a 40 percent chance of visibility of four miles and light rain showers. The controller told the pilot to expect a head wind from 270 degrees at 43 to 57 knots. at 12,500 feet. At 10,000 feet, the wind was forecast from 260 through 280 degrees at 35 to 40 knots.

The controller asked the pilot if he was flying VFR or IFR. The pilot responded that he was VFR. The controller again informed the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended due to mountain obscurement. The pilot acknowledged the information.

At 1054, the pilot contacted Denver Flight Watch and gave the controller a pilot report. The pilot stated that at 12,500 feet, the weather was clear and unlimited visibility. There was no turbulence and the temperature was six degrees. The wind was from 299 degrees at 39 knots. The controller asked the pilot for his location, and the pilot reported that he was 170 miles southeast of Jackson.

The controller informed the pilot that Jackson's previous special report indicated clear skies, however, the weather was varying quite rapidly, with some snow showers and icing conditions reported. The controller reported that Jackson was currently IFR with a 200 foot overcast ceiling.

The pilot thanked the controller and there were no further communications with Denver Flight Watch.

At 1138, the pilot contacted Salt Lake City, Utah, Air Route Traffic Control Center, and requested a VOR/DME clearance for runway 36 at Jackson. The pilot reported that he was currently 18 miles south of the Big Piney VOR at 11,500 feet.

The controller instructed the pilot to squawk a discrete transponder code and asked the pilot his requested altitude. The pilot stated that the he was heading "for this fix ah jay one eight sixteen which is eleven thousand five hundred and I can go up to eleven." The controller responded by asking the pilot if he could go up to 13,000 feet. The pilot responded that he could.

At 1143, the controller informed the pilot that he was in radar contact 76 miles south of Jackson, and asked the pilot if he could climb to 14,000 feet. The pilot responded that he could. The controller then cleared the pilot to the Jackson airport via victor 238, and to climb and maintain 14,000 feet.

At 1157, the controller asked the pilot if he had the current weather at Jackson. The pilot responded that he got the current weather 15 minutes ago. The controller responded that that was the current weather and informed the pilot that the last aircraft into Jackson reported a trace of icing during the descent, and reported that the weather was breaking up a little. The pilot responded that the last time he checked, it was clear.

At 1159, the controller contacted the pilot and informed him that he was ten or 15 degrees right of course for the airway. The pilot responded that his VOR was "kind of in and out."

At 1201, the controller advised the pilot of a notam for thin loose snow on the runway and poor braking action. Personnel and equipment were working on the runway. The pilot responded that the transmission was breaking up and the controller repeated the information.

During the period of 1205 to 1209 there were some garbled transmissions. The pilot eventually got through to the controller and reported that he was picking up "moderate rime ice." The controller then asked the pilot what approach he was planning and the pilot responded that he wanted the VOR/DME approach for runway 36. The controller acknowledged and cleared the pilot for the approach.

At 1213, the controller instructed the pilot to change to the advisory frequency and to report his cancellation or arrival time on the controllers frequency. The controller requested the pilot to advise of the flight conditions and runway conditions once he was on the ground. The pilot did not respond to this transmission.

There were no further communications by the pilot and the flight dropped from radar contact at 1212 as the flight descended below 12,400 feet.

Wreckage and impact information