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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 28, 1987 · Cessna 421C · N26553

Cody, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 28, 1987
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Cody, WY
Aircraft
Cessna 421C
Tail Number
N26553
Operator
Hugo Schoellkopf
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN87FA162

THE PLT & 3 PAXS WERE RETURNING TO DALLAS, TX FROM A RETREAT IN MONTANA. THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MT, TO CASPER, WY, BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE IT AFTER DEPARTURE. THE ACFT WAS RPRTD OVERDUE BY FAMILY & A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL ON 7/1/87. THE ACFT HAD CRASHED AT THE 10,000' LVL 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 NNE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, AFTER TURNING TO A HDG OF ABOUT 050 DEG. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT HAD ADDED 35 GAL OF FUEL (MIXTURE OF 80 & 100 OCTANE FUEL) FOR AN ESTIMATED FUEL LOAD OF 213 GAL. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. APPROX 27 MI SSE OF CODY, WY, THE WX WAS IN PART: 18,000' SCATTERED, 25,000' OVERCAST, 30 MI VIS. THE ELEV AT CODY WAS ABOUT 5,000' LOWER THAN THE CRASH SITE.

Full Narrative

THE PLT & 3 PAXS WERE RETURNING TO DALLAS, TX FROM A RETREAT IN MONTANA. THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MT, TO CASPER, WY, BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE IT AFTER DEPARTURE. THE ACFT WAS RPRTD OVERDUE BY FAMILY & A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL ON 7/1/87. THE ACFT HAD CRASHED AT THE 10,000' LVL 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 NNE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, AFTER TURNING TO A HDG OF ABOUT 050 DEG. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT HAD ADDED 35 GAL OF FUEL (MIXTURE OF 80 & 100 OCTANE FUEL) FOR AN ESTIMATED FUEL LOAD OF 213 GAL. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. APPROX 27 MI SSE OF CODY, WY, THE WX WAS IN PART: 18,000' SCATTERED, 25,000' OVERCAST, 30 MI VIS. THE ELEV AT CODY WAS ABOUT 5,000' LOWER THAN THE CRASH SITE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN26553
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHugo Schoellkopf
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520 · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10°
Visibility30 sm
CeilingOvercast 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data