Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mountain Home, Idaho 83647
Tuesady, June 20, 2000 18:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot took off without first performing the calculations that would determine if the aircraft could out-climb the surrounding terrain under the ambient conditions. Because of the gusty winds, turbulence, downdrafts, and high density altitude, it became evident soon after takeoff that the aircraft might sink into the unfavorable terrain along the departure route. The pilot therefore elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing roll on the rough/uneven terrain, one main gear collapsed and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to takeoff in unfavorable weather conditions without first calculating takeoff performance data. Factors include gusty winds, downdrafts, terrain-induced turbulence, and rough/uneven terrain where the pilot elected to make the precautionary landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1835
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MOUNTAIN HOME
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83647
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 6
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5100
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 882
NTSB Notification Source FAA COMM CNTR
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8865K
NTSB Number SEA00LA111
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 Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-1
Aircraft Serial Number 108-1865
Certified Max Gross Weight 2230
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 Apr 16 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 1581
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HENRY D. WILMES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15118 SE LOSTINE DR.
Aircraft Owner City CLACKAMAS
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97015
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 U76
Departure City MOUNTAIN HOME
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1833
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 59S
Destination City VANCOUVER
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:10AM
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 --