Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83002
Tuesady, October 13, 1998 11:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the pilot taxied out for takeoff, he noted that the windsock indicated a no wind weather situation (he had not received a forecasted winds aloft briefing). The pilot reported that he departed east towards the mountains and was climbing at 85 to 90 knots indicated airspeed (IAS). He turned the airplane southwest and climbed through 10,000 feet (approximately 11,000 feet density altitude) when his IAS dropped between 60 to 65 knots. He said the airplane began to descend at 800 to 1,200 feet per minute, and he could not get the airplane's nose down 'even with full forward yoke.' The pilot reported that he kept the wings level and 'pulled [the] yoke back full somewhere close to impacting the trees.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. Factors contributing to the accident were the unfavorable weather condition, mountain wave and the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City JACKSON HOLE
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83002
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
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 1256 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID JAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 6445
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 11033
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1604
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1437
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N569C
NTSB Number DEN99LA008
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 Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-3569
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 2500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOTT P. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 11091, 215 HANSEN ST.
Aircraft Owner City JACKSON HOLE
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83002
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 JAC
Departure City
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1105
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 --