Twin Bridges Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sun Valley, Idaho 83353
Friday, July 5, 1996 12:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that while on approach to runway 21, he encountered crosswind conditions and added power to extend the landing; just before touchdown, an extremely strong gust blew the aircraft to the right of the runway. The pilot said he added full power to initiate a go-around. The aircraft started to climb, then just started descending to the right. Subsequently, it went into the terrain 'sideways,' but upright. The pilot noted that an individual in the area had observed strong wind gusts with changing directions on the morning of the accident. The airport had high timbered ridges to the east of the runway. Density altitude was approximately 9,400 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed for the go-around. The crosswind, downdraft, and high density altitude were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SUN VALLEY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83353
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TWIN BRIDGES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID U61
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6893
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 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) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1506
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1509
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95658
NTSB Number SEA96LA143
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 Taylorcraft
Aircraft Model BC12-D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC12-D
Aircraft Serial Number 7958
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Jan 14 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 2900
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES D. FULTZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9400 GALLOWAY RD.
Aircraft Owner City MIDDLETON
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83644
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 No
Departure Airport Code U87
Departure City STANLEY
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code U61
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
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 21
Runway Length 4450
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --