# NTSB WPR23LA052: Rutan Long-EZ, N379W, Mountain Green, UT, November 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 27, 2022, 14:15, time zone not recorded - Place: Mountain Green, UT - Coordinates: 41.184996, -111.61573 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1850&lon=-111.6157&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106403/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106403 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot’s flight into a valley with rising terrain that the airplane was incapable of out-climbing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Navigation error](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/280); cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/280/sequence.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/280/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056093G), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he mistakenly entered the wrong valley with rising terrain, which the airplane could not out-climb. When the pilot determined that he would not out-climb the terrain or safely reverse course, he landed the airplane on the valley floor, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N379W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N379W-2023-09-11), registration cancelled 2023-09-11, S/N 1199, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RUTAN Long-EZ - Registry model: [Parkinson Scott LONG EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/parkinson-scott-long-eze) (registry code 056093G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1199 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 18, 2022 - Departed: 42U, Mountain Green, UT - Destination: KRXE, Rexburg, ID - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,000 total, 4 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 40 °F - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KHIF, 16 nm away - METAR: KHIF 272055Z AUTO 19006KT 10SM FEW033 BKN090 04/M05 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP169 T00401050 57025= ## 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 20221127017819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221127017819A), Nov 27, 2022: Parkinson Scott LONG EZE, Morgan, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot departed 42U intending to fly to rex airport. The pilot entered a boxed canyon without adequate power for climb out and experienced canyon… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106403. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14834057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA052_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14834605&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA052photos_508-Rel.pdf 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.