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NTSB Report
May 31, 1986 · Bauer S Mitchell Wing U-2 · N3967S
Cheyenne, WY
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 31, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Cheyenne, WY
Aircraft
Bauer S Mitchell Wing U-2
Tail Number
N3967S
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN86FA146
THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT ACFT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. THE ACFT WAS THEN SEEN TO STALL AND ENTER A RIGHT SPIN. WITNESSES SAID THE PLT RECOVERED BUT ENTERED A SECOND STALL AND DOVE STRAIGHT INTO GROUND. NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME, ENG, PROP, OR FLT CONTROL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND. ENG WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND RAN NORMALLY. PLT HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTION IN STALL/SPIN RECOVERY. PLT HAD LOGGED 7 HRS IN ACFT AND WAS MAKING 5TH FLT WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8157 FT MSL.
Full Narrative
THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT ACFT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. THE ACFT WAS THEN SEEN TO STALL AND ENTER A RIGHT SPIN. WITNESSES SAID THE PLT RECOVERED BUT ENTERED A SECOND STALL AND DOVE STRAIGHT INTO GROUND. NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME, ENG, PROP, OR FLT CONTROL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND. ENG WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND RAN NORMALLY. PLT HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTION IN STALL/SPIN RECOVERY. PLT HAD LOGGED 7 HRS IN ACFT AND WAS MAKING 5TH FLT WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8157 FT MSL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 MDT
Nearest AirportCHEYENNE (3nm ENE)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBauer S Mitchell Wing U-2
Tail NumberN3967S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCuyuna · 440 · Reciprocating · 30
Seats1
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 9 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:19
Weather SourceWFAC