Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mule Creek Jct, Wyoming
Thursday, August 8, 1985 8:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS SPOTTING CATTLE DURING A CATTLE HERDING OPERATION. HE SAW 2 COWS WITH CALVES IN A COVE OF A CANYON THAT PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND WERE LEAVING BEHIND. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MADE A SHARP TURN & FLEW OVER THE COWS TO SHOW THEIR LOCATION TO RIDERS ON THE GROUND. HE THEN ENTERED A CLIMB & STARTED A TURN TO LEAVE WHEN THE ACFT 'JUST DROPPED.' THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE WAS RECOVERING, 'THE AIRPLANE FLATTENED OUT JUST OFF THE GROUND.' THE LEFT WING THEN DROPPED & CONTACTED THE GROUND & THE ACFT CARTWHEELED INTO A CANYON & CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE PLT ESCAPED INJURY, BUT A DOG THAT WAS ABOARD WAS KILLED. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 4500 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MULE CREEK JCT
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 5300
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1072
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28414
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5163E
NTSB Number DEN85LTE06
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 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 50463
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Oct 3 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2500
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILBUR E. STODDARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 11
Aircraft Owner City BILL
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82636
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City STODDARD RANCH
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --