Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 25, 1995, approximately 2100 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 152, N588BR, impacted the terrain while maneuvering near Wellsville, Utah. The private pilot received minor injuries, his passenger was not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which departed Logan-Cache Airport about 30 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.
According to the pilot, he and his passenger were looking at property when he noticed that the aircraft was sinking and the airspeed was low. He applied full power, but was unable to keep the aircraft from colliding with the terrain. The pilot said that a combination of high density altitude and an undetected downdraft created a situation from which he could not recover. In a written statement in an NTSB 6120.1/2 form, he noted that the accident could have been prevented if he was more familiar with mountain flying and density altitude.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA95LA163