Monument Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monument Valley, Utah 84536
Sunday, May 7, 2000 11:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he overflew the airport to check the available wind information. He noticed that the windsocks were indicating a 'very strong wind' and that one windsock was fluctuating 20-30 degrees from side to side. The pilot applied full flaps after turning onto final approach. During the final approach to the 4000-foot dirt runway, the airplane encountered 'severe turbulence.' The pilot reported that he noticed the airspeed fluctuate between 50 and 70 knots, so he applied more power; however, a 'tremendous sink rate was developing.' The airplane touched down 'very hard,' bounced into the air, and the pilot executed a go-around. At an altitude of less that 100 feet agl, the pilot initiated 'a shallow left turn to avoid a thousand foot cliff.' During the go-around turn, the airplane 'developed a sink rate that was uncontrollable.' The pilot leveled the wings for an off-airport landing. During the uncontrolled descent, the airplane impacted a small hill with the right wing. The nearest weather station, 49 nautical miles from the accident site, reported winds from 220 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his delayed go-around, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. A factor was the turbulent weather conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MONUMENT VALLEY
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84536
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MONUMENT VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 71V
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 5200
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) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID 4BL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5865
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 14000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 146
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1314
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3622C
NTSB Number FTW00LA141
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model R182
Aircraft Series Identifier R182
Aircraft Serial Number 18200281
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 26 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 4649
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WESTWIND AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 732 W. DEER VALLEY RD.
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85027
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 WIWA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SEZ
Departure City SEDONA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 71V
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --