Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crowheart, Wyoming 82512
Saturday, July 27, 2002 7:40 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately 37 minutes after departure, radar data indicates that the airplane was climbing through 10,500 feet, with a 245 degree ground track. The last radar return was approximately 4 nm from the impact point. The airplane was found approximately 100 feet below a saddle (elevation 11,200 feet) of two mountain summits. The airplane's Owner's Manual indicates that the service ceiling was 14,600 feet. The density altitude was calculated to be 12,278 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the high mountain terrain. Contributing factors were the high mountain terrain, and the high density altitude weather condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 740
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Crowheart
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82512
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434106N
Event Location Longitude 1091232W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID RIW
Elevation of weather observation facility 5525
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.34
Density Altitude (feet) 12347
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13952
NTSB Notification Source FAA COMM CTR
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Casper, WY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34859
NTSB Number DEN02FA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17702050
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 12 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 3035
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas J. Dorsett
Aircraft Owner Street Address 34904 SW Bald Peak Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Hillsboro
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97123
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WRL
Departure City Worland
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 705
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYL
Destination City Mc Call
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2003 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight --
Air Medical Flight --
Medical Flight --