Cody

ARTCC asked the pilot of Airspur 8773 if he would be able to execute the VOR instrument approach. The pilot said he could, but he wanted to "hold for a while to see if [the weather] gets a little better" [according to the METAR, visibility was 1.75 statute miles and there was a 200-foot overcast ceiling]. He was cleared to hold north of the VOR at 12,000 feet msl. While holding, the pilot filed the following PIREP indicating light rime icing. Shortly thereafter, he was cleared for the approach. Three witnesses saw the airplane on the downwind leg, just past midfield, at an estimated altitude of 500 feet. Shortly thereafter, one of them heard the engine "spool up to high power...[like reversing] the pitch of the propeller to slow down," and he thought the airplane had landed. Five witnesses said the airplane emerged from the overcast and banked "sharply to the left, then back to the right, then back to the left, then took a hard bank to the right," rolled inverted and struck the highway just south of the airport perimeter. The airplane slid down the embankment and out into a lake, becoming partially submerged. Witnesses said it was "snowing hard" and the highway was covered with 1 to 2 inches of slush. Wreckage examination revealed the flaps were down 30 degrees, the wing deice boots were "ribbed," and the inertial separator was open. According to the toxicological report, chlorpheniramine, desmethylsertraline, sertraline, and pseudoephedrine were detected in blood. In addition, chlorpheniramine, sertraline, phenylpropanolamine, and pseudoephedrine were detected in the urine. The urine also contained acetaminophen. Sertraline (trade name Zoloft) is a prescription antidepressant medication. According to the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, "The use of a psychotropic medication is considered disqualifying. This includes all... antidepressant drugs..." Chlorpheniramine is an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine used primarily for the treatment of allergies. Pseudophedrine (trade name Sudafed) is a decongestant. Acetaminophen (trade name Tylenol) is an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever-reducer. According to Dr. Stanley R. Mohler's "Medication and Flying: A Pilot's Guide," the adverse side effects of chlorpheniramine include drowsiness, dizziness, and lessened coordination. The side effects of pseudophedrine are usually mild and infrequent, but may include sleepiness, dizziness, restlessness, headache, and perhaps some loss of coordination and alertness or confusion.

The pilot and three passengers were returning to Dallas, TX from a retreat in Montana. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan from White Sulphur Springs, MT, to Casper, WY, but did not activate it after departure. The aircraft was reported overdue by family and a search was initiated. The wreckage was located by the civil air patrol on 7/1/87. The aircraft had crashed at the 10,000 feet level of a box canyon area in mountainous terrain. The impact area was on a rolling meadow that was surrounded on three sides by mountains. Entrance to the area was from the north-northeast. There was evidence the aircraft impacted in a left wing low, nose low attitude, after turning to a heading of about 050°. Before takeoff, the pilot had added 35 gallons of fuel (mixture of 80 and 100 octane fuel) for an estimated fuel load of 213 gallons. No evidence was found of a preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Approximately 27 miles south-southeast of Cody, WY, the weather was in part: 18,000 feet scattered, 25,000 feet overcast, 30 miles visibility. The elevation at Cody was about 5,000 feet lower than the crash site. All four occupants were killed.

N2336X was on a business flight to Cody, WY. The pilot executed a missed approach on the first attempt of the VOR-A approach. A pilot who landed at Cody minutes before the accident said the visibility had decreased to 3/4 of a mile when N2336X made the first approach and approx 1/2 mile when N2336X crashed. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft prior to accident. The sas servo arm was found in the full up position. The aircraft struck the terrain in a steep nose low attitude on a heading that was opposite to the direction of flight. Approach minimums at Cody are 5,800 feet and 1 mile visibility. All three occupants were killed.

On approach to Cody Airport, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames on a mountain located few miles from the airfield. The wreckage was found a day later and all four occupants have been killed.