Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Riverton, Wyoming 82501
Tuesady, April 7, 1998 11:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot obtained a weather briefing before departing on a flight from Rock Springs, WY, to Broadus, MT. He was told that Gillette, WY, and Billings, MT, were reporting instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and that no weather was available for Riverton, WY. Since visual meteorological conditons (VMC) prevailed at Rock Springs, he made a decision to takeoff and assess the weather en route. While in cruise flight, the aircraft penetrated a line of light drizzle and snow showers. While attempting to reverse direction, the airplane collided with terrain.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

continued flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude from terrain, while manuevering to reverse direction. Related factors were: the adverse weather conditions, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City RIVERTON
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82501
Event Date Year 1998
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID RIV
Elevation of weather observation facility 5525
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6584
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 107
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 7 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1838
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4728F
NTSB Number FTW98LA176
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model P206B
Aircraft Series Identifier P206B
Aircraft Serial Number P2060328
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 10 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6251
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFREY G. WASH
Aircraft Owner Street Address H.C. 71, OTTER ROUTE
Aircraft Owner City ASHLAND
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59003
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 RKS
Departure City ROCK SPRINGS
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1125
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BDX
Destination City BROADUS
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 --