Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83001
Sunday, July 22, 2012 11:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight he was unable to maintain a sufficient climb rate to clear the mountainous terrain, and he initiated an off-airport precautionary landing to a nearby alpine meadow. When the airplane touched down, the left main landing gear collided with a large rock and collapsed. The airplane bounced and touched down a second time before sliding about 150 feet to a stop. The airplaneā€™s fuselage and undercarriage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in the collapse of the main landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Jackson Hole
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83001
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 433626N
Event Location Longitude 1104416W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30394
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2012 10:44PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N780AX
NTSB Number WPR12CA319
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 DORNIER
Aircraft Model DO 27 B5
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 391
Certified Max Gross Weight 4080
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 3 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2293
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARTINI LUC J.R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CARNATION
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98014-9629
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MARTINI LUC J.R.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CARNATION
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98014-9629
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
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 46U
Departure City Alpine
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PNA
Destination City Pinedale
Destination State WY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2012 10:45PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --