Summary
On June 11, 1997, a Staudacher S-260-2 (N540S) was involved in an accident near Wallace, ID. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate altitude/distance from wooded terrain during a low-altitude course reversal. Related factors include mountainous/hilly terrain, blind canyon, low ceiling, and trees in the flight path of the aircraft.
On June 11, 1997, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, an experimental Staudacher S-260-2, N540S, collided with trees during a course reversal in Lookout Pass, about seven miles east of Wallace, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal transportation flight, which departed Helena, Montana about 75 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
This accident is documented in NTSB report SEA97LA136. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N540S.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate altitude/distance from wooded terrain during a low-altitude course reversal. Related factors include mountainous/hilly terrain, blind canyon, low ceiling, and trees in the flight path of the aircraft.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On June 11, 1997, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, an experimental Staudacher S-260-2, N540S, collided with trees during a course reversal in Lookout Pass, about seven miles east of Wallace, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal transportation flight, which departed Helena, Montana about 75 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 an FAA inspector who traveled to the scene of the accident, the pilot told local law enforcement officials and the doctor at the hospital where he was taken after the crash, that he had been trying to get through Lookout Pass, but because he could see low clouds and fog ahead, elected to reverse course. He said that while trying to reverse course at a very low altitude, the aircraft impacted the trees on a ridge near one side of the valley through which he was flying. The FAA reported that on the day of the flight, the pilot received two separate weather briefings for the route he was attempting, and both times he was advised that because of forecast weather, VFR flight was not recommended along that route.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA97LA136