Rutan LONG-EZ N379W

Summary

On 27 November 2022 at about 14:15 local time, a Rutan LONG-EZ registered N379W was involved in an accident near Mountain Green, Utah, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 November 2022 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Mountain Green, Utah, United States

Coordinates

41.1850, -111.6157

Aircraft

Rutan LONG-EZ

Registration

N379W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1983

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mountain Green → Rexburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA052

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s flight into a valley with rising terrain that the airplane was incapable of out-climbing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, he mistakenly entered the wrong valley with rising terrain, which the airplane could not out-climb. When the pilot determined that he would not out-climb the terrain or safely reverse course, he landed the airplane on the valley floor, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.