Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cody, Wyoming 82414
Tuesady, July 4, 1995 12:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN LEAD POSITION WITH TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN TRAIL. THE PILOTS WERE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY TOWARD A MOUNTAIN PASS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT, DOWNDRAFTS WERE ENCOUNTERED, AND THE PILOTS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED COURSE REVERSAL. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DECLARED ON THE RADIO BEFORE CRASHING THAT HE COULDN'T GAIN ALTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE COURSE. A FACTOR WAS THE DOWNDRAFTS ENCOUNTERED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CODY
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82414
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
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 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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1073
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N718RS
NTSB Number SEA95FA136
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ALON
Aircraft Model AIRCOUPE A-2
Aircraft Series Identifier AIRCOUPE A
Aircraft Serial Number A-82
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WATKINS, KIRT B.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2100 WESTVIEW TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City DENTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76207
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code COD
Departure City
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSO
Destination City MISSOULA
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --