Jackson Hole Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83001
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 11:55 MDT

On September 11, 2013, about 1155 mountain daylight time, a single-engine experimental Kamtz Vans RV-7A, N820RV, experienced a loss of power and departed control flight while the pilot was maneuvering in the traffic pattern at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and being operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The personal flight was originating from Jackson Hole with a planned destination of Fort-Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.   Numerous witnesses located at the airport and near the accident site observed the airplane maneuvering in the traffic pattern. A majority of them stated that the airplane initially departed from runway 01 and climbed to about 500 to 600 feet above ground level (agl) while maneuvering onto the downwind leg. Several witnesses heard the engine producing abnormal sounds that were described as a multiple high revving sequences and a sputtering/popping noise akin to the engine misfiring. The engine appeared to either lose partial or total power and the emergency airport siren sounded.   The witnesses further recalled that while the airplane was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern (a right bank from south to west), the left wing dropped and the airplane’s wings were near perpendicular to the terrain. The airplane subsequently made a rapid descent and impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude.     The Jackson Hole Air Traffic Control Facility recorded radio communications between the pilot and the controller. Shortly after departing runway 01, the airplane entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and the pilot transmitted “Jackson tower eight-two-zero-romeo-victor, I just lost my… lost power here.” The controller responded by clearing the airplane to make a right turn onto the base leg and land on runway 01 to which the pilot responded with the his last transmission “eight-two-zero-romeo-victor.”   Minutes before the airplane departed, the controller report to him that the wind conditions were from 040 degrees at 15 knot. Immediately after the accident, the controller transmitted to an incoming airliner that the wind was from 050 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 26 knots.   The accident site was located on level terrain comprised of hard dirt and brush and located about 3,100 feet from the takeoff threshold for runway 01 on a bearing of about 080 degrees. The first identified point of impact consisted of a crater about five feet long and four feet in diameter, where engine pieces and composite chards were imbedded in the compacted dirt. The main wreckage came to rest with the nose on a heading of about 285 degrees and was located about five feet from the initial crater. The main wreckage consisted of the major airframe components and the engine; the propeller, canopy and top portion of the cowling were found further down from the debris field.   Following an airframe, engine and engine accessory teardown examination, the propeller, propeller governor, and several cockpit instruments were retained for further investigation.

Not Yet Reported