Zone
Wyoming

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 602P) in Rock Springs

Date & Time: Aug 9, 2001 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)
Operator:
Roeder-Johnson Corporation
Registration:
N44JH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rock Springs – Marysville
MSN:
62-0902-8165031
YOM:
1981
Location:
Rock Springs
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2578
Captain / Total hours on type:
520.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2998
Circumstances:
The airplane had just taken off and was climbing through 9,000 feet when the pilot heard "a very loud explosive sound" that came from the right side of the aircraft. He returned to the airport and landed. When the airplane touched down, it began veered to the right and the pilot attempted to correct. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed, driving it through the top of the wing. Half of the right main tire (30 hours total time in service) and most of its inner tube (with a round section blown out) were found at the point of touch down. Missing was the valve stem. Continuous S-shaped marks indicated the tire came off the rim.
Probable cause:
The right main tire blowing out in flight, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Evanston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1990 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Alpine Aviation
Registration:
N4082H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rock Springs - Evanston
MSN:
31-8152087
YOM:
1981
Location:
Evanston-Uinta County
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2001
Captain / Total hours on type:
671.00
Circumstances:
The air taxi cargo pilot crashed on a mountainside, about 7 miles from the airport, while on a VOR/DME instrument approach. Variable low ceilings and visibility had prevailed on the day of the accident. The pilot had had the flu for the preceding 2 weeks and was still taking medication. Sole on board, he was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot's premature descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue and poor weather.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Rock Springs: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1983 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 340
Operator:
Flight Brothers
Registration:
N5415M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rock Springs - Rock Springs
MSN:
340-0028
YOM:
1972
Location:
Rock Springs
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4281
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2022
Circumstances:
The aircrew of a Cessna 340, N5415M, were scheduled for an air taxi check ride with an inspector at Jackson, WY, later in the afternoon. They had planned to takeoff from Rock Springs, WY, practice at few instrument approaches at Rock Springs, then proceed to Jackson. After taking off, they made an NDB approach, made a missed approach, then began an ILS approach. A Beech Bonanza, N1825F, was on a flight from Scottsbluff, NE to Rock Springs. During arrival to Rock Springs, the Bonanza pilot was monitoring the position of a King Air that was ahead of him and also on an approach to the same airport. All three aircraft were using the same frequency and all three were providing reports of their respective positions. At approximately 1103 mdt, witnesses heard N5415M and N1825F collide, then saw the aircraft and pieces of wreckage falling. An investigation revealed the Cessna was inbound toward the outermarker (270° course) and the Bonanza was in level flight, heading approximately 219°. Both aircraft were operating VFR. All six occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: midair collision
Phase of operation: approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (IFR)
Findings
1. Radar traffic information service - not used - pilot in command
2. (c) visual lookout - inadequate - copilot/second pilot
3. (c) visual lookout - inadequate - pilot of other aircraft
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Provo

Date & Time: May 12, 1933 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13320
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Rock Springs
MSN:
1701
YOM:
1933
Location:
Provo
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
15
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Salt Lake City to Rock Springs, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Provo. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B on Mt Wasatch

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1923
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
247
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rock Springs – Salt Lake City
Location:
Mt Wasatch
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Rock Springs to Salt Lake City, weather conditions worsened with the presence of a storm. The pilot decided to fly over and increased his altitude till 18,000 feet when the engine lost power. The airplane entered a dive and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Wasatch Mountain Range. The pilot was injured and able to reach the nearest village by his own.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Porcupine Ridge

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1922 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
249
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Rock Springs
Location:
Porcupine Ridge
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Salt Lake City to Rock Springs, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions, Caught by severe downdrafts, the aircraft crashed in Porcupine Ridge, a mountain located northeast of Salina, at an altitude of about 9,400 feet. The pilot survived the accident and walked for about 24 hours in negative temperature before reaching the first village.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Rock Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
176
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Rock Springs
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rock Springs, while climbing to a height of about 150 feet, the pilot apparently attempted to return when, doing a sharp turn, he lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
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