N569C

On October 13, 1998, approximately 1120 mountain daylight time, a Stinson, 108-3, N569C (NC569C), was destroyed when it collided with terrain during an en route climb from Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; however, one passenger was not injured. The aircraft was owned/operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which originated approximately 15 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he was taking two friends for a "short local flight." As he taxied out for takeoff, he noted that the windsock indicated a no wind weather situation (he had not received a forecasted winds aloft briefing). The pilot reported that he departed east towards the mountains and was climbing at 85 to 90 knots indicated airspeed (IAS). He turned the airplane southwest and climbed through 10,000 feet (approximately 11,000 feet density altitude) when his IAS dropped 60 to 65 knots. He said the airplane began to descend at 800 to 1,200 feet per minute, and he could not get the airplane's nose down "even with full forward yoke." The pilot reported that he kept the wings level and "pulled [the] yoke back full somewhere close to impacting the trees." Postimpact fire consumed the airplane.

The occupants exited the airplane and the back seat passenger walked down the mountain approximately 6 miles for help. At approximately 1630, a U.S. Forest Service helicopter arrived at the accident scene, and extracted the pilot and the front seat passenger.