At about 1130 Mountain time, the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage. The private pilot/owner and his passenger were killed. At the time of the accident, the pilot was flying through an area of multiple layered overcast and broken cloud formations, with light rain. When the aircraft did not arrive at its intended destination, an alert notice for a missing aircraft was issued. As part of the search process, recorded aircraft radar tracks were reviewed, and one was determined to have terminated near the location where the wreckage was ultimately located. The last portion of that radar track indicated that the airplane associated with it was descending at a very high rate of speed.
May 18, 2011, Rock Springs, Wyo., Bellanca 17-30A
At about 1130 Mountain time, the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage. The private pilot/owner and his passenger were killed. At the time of the accident, the pilot was flying through an area of multiple layered overcast and broken cloud formations, with light rain. When the aircraft did not arrive at its intended destination, an alert notice for a missing aircraft was issued.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot and passenger were killed when their airplane crashed at approximately 1130 Mountain time, sustaining substantial damage.
- The accident occurred in an area of multiple layered overcast and broken cloud formations with light rain.
- When the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, a missing aircraft alert was issued.
- Radar tracks showed the airplane descending at a very high rate of speed just before impact, aiding in the location of the wreckage.
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