Humphreys STITTS SA6B N5628

Summary

On 16 August 2001 at about 15:25 local time, a Humphreys STITTS SA6B registered N5628, operated by Richard M. Bouge, was involved in an accident near Elko, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 August 2001 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Elko, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

40.9503, -115.7891

Aircraft

Humphreys STITTS SA6B

Registration

N5628

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard M. Bouge

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elko → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA280

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the pilot-in-command to reverse course in a timely manner after flying into a box canyon. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft and the local terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The first pilot maneuvered into a mountain canyon and the owner/student second pilot expressed his reservations. The canyon was a "box" canyon and the terrain rose faster that the 100-horsepower airplane could climb. The first pilot attempted, too late, to reverse course and, as they were turning to fly back down the canyon, the airplane shook in pre-stall buffet while about 5 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the nose and they crashed. In his report to the Safety Board, in the section on recommendations for preventing the accident, the first pilot wrote "more familiarity with terrain and aircraft performance." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft and that the accident site elevation was approximately 7,200 feet msl.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.