Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The operator reported that the pilot taxied the high-wing airplane from the ramp along the parallel taxiway to the active runway (27) with a quartering tailwind. He reported that when the pilot initiated a turn to the right at the taxiway intersection, the airplane did not respond to the control inputs and continued straight ahead. The pilot applied full right brake and rudder; however, the airplane continued to track forward and exited the hard surface taxiway. The airplane continued off the taxiway and traveled an additional 80 feet through rough terrain before it came to rest in a nose-down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Winds at the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 27 knots, gusting to 38 knots. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported with the control system or brakes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing. Contributing to the accident were the gusty winds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Rock Springs
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82901
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413539N
Event Location Longitude 1090354W
Event Location Airport Rock Springs-Sweetwater County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KRKS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6760
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KRKS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6764
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 27
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 38
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25080
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2009 10:02PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N890FE
NTSB Number WPR09CA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B0219
Certified Max Gross Weight 8785
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 10062
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MEMPHIS
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38118-1547
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Corporate Air
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Billings
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59108
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KRKS
Departure City Rock Springs
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KCRP
Destination City Casper
Destination State WY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2009 10:02PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --