Wendover Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wendover, Utah 84083
Sunday, March 13, 1994 20:27 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AREA OFF THE SOUTH END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY PROVIDES NO GROUND REFERENCE AT NIGHT. IT IS DESCRIBED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL AS A 'BLACK HOLE' DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE FLAT DRY LAKE BED, ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2027
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WENDOVER
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84083
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WENDOVER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ENV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 4240
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 419
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 15 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:52AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8885R
NTSB Number SEA94FA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 14-19-3A
Aircraft Series Identifier 14-19-3A
Aircraft Serial Number 4247
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 8 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2117
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHAW, J. & SMITH, J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12626 SO. 1700 EAST
Aircraft Owner City DRAPER
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84020
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHAW, JOSEPH M.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4457 GILEAD WAY
Operator City SALT LAKE CITY
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84124
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2025
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLC
Destination City SALT LAKE CITY
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 9100
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --