Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lander, Wyoming 82520
Tuesady, April 26, 1994 19:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT LOST ALL GROUND REFERENCE AND OPTED TO DESCEND IN ALTITUDE WITH THE SLOWEST POSSIBLE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT KEPT THE WINGS LEVEL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LANDER
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82520
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 462
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N134Q
NTSB Number SEA94LA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WACO
Aircraft Model UPF-7
Aircraft Series Identifier UPF-7
Aircraft Serial Number 5484
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 2670
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ULRICH, PHILIP J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2100 ROOSEVELT DR.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99517
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ULRICH, PHILIP J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2100 ROOSEVELT DR.
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99517
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RWL
Departure City RAWLINS
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BIL
Destination City BILLINGS
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --