# NTSB SEA97LA136: Staudacher S-260-2, N540S, Wallace, ID, June 11, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1997, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Wallace, ID - Coordinates: 47.61016, -115.909225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6102&lon=-115.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42627/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA136 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate altitude/distance from wooded terrain during a low-altitude course reversal. Related factors include mountainous/hilly terrain, blind canyon, low ceiling, and trees in the flight path of the aircraft. ## Analysis The pilot was flying low through a mountain valley when he observed low clouds and fog in the pass through which he was about to fly. He therefore elected to make a course reversal, but the airplane impacted trees on a ridge near one side of the valley. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1997, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, an experimental Staudacher S-260-2, N540S, collided with trees during a course reversal in Lookout Pass, about seven miles east of Wallace, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal transportation flight, which departed Helena, Montana about 75 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to an FAA inspector who traveled to the scene of the accident, the pilot told local law enforcement officials and the doctor at the hospital where he was taken after the crash, that he had been trying to get through Lookout Pass, but because he could see low clouds and fog ahead, elected to reverse course. He said that while trying to reverse course at a very low altitude, the aircraft impacted the trees on a ridge near one side of the valley through which he was flying. The FAA reported that on the day of the flight, the pilot received two separate weather briefings for the route he was attempting, and both times he was advised that because of forecast weather, VFR flight was not recommended along that route. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N540S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N540S-1998-12-09), registration cancelled 1998-12-09, S/N 002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STAUDACHER S-260-2 - Registry model: [Staudacher Jon A S 260-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/staudacher-jon-a-s-260-2) (registry code 0561237) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 002 - Airframe hours: 496 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Coombes, James A. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1997, 27 hours before - Departed: HLN, HELENA, MT - Destination: SFF, SPOKANE, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,350 total, 269 in this make and model, 3,230 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 3 statute miles ## 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 19970611013789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970611013789A), Jun 11, 1997: Mullen, ID, Destroyed. (.19) See NTSB #SEA97LA136 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.