Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bluff, Utah 84512
Saturday, May 19, 1990 18:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT LANDED AT WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN UNCHARTED, UNATTENDED DIRT AIRSTRIP. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, THE ACFT STRUCK AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE TAKEOFF SURFACE WHEREUPON THE PLT LOST CONTROL AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA INTO TREES. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PLT WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, NEITHER ACFT DEFICIENCIES OR WX WERE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WRECKAGE AND THE PLT WERE FOUND THE FOLLOWING MORNING BY CIVIL AIR PATROL ACFT SEARCHING DUE TO IMPACT FORCE ACTIVATION OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT ELT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SELECT AND SURVEY HIS LANDING SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BLUFF
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84512
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5500
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 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 135
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 191
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40911
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4807U
NTSB Number DEN90LA110
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 205
Aircraft Series Identifier 205
Aircraft Serial Number 205-0507
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
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 Jan 2 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 4163
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES M. WILSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2984
Aircraft Owner City DURANGO
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81302
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 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 --
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U07
Destination City BULLFROG
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --