Helio HST-550A N550HZ

Summary

On 1 March 1992 at about 22:00 local time, a Helio HST-550A registered N550HZ, operated by Maytag, David D. JR., was involved in an accident near Salome, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 March 1992 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Salome, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.7194, -113.6507

Aircraft

Helio HST-550A

Registration

N550HZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Maytag, David D. JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA133

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, IMPROPER ALTITUDE, AND DELAYING THE REQUIRED REMEDIAL ACTION TO PREVENT THE COLLISION WITH THE MOUNTAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING A LOW LEVEL FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE SURFACE WIND CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SOUTH AT OR ABOVE 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE APPROACHED THE MOUNTAIN PEAK IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION AND CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE PILOT FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY CORRECT FOR THIS CONDITION AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE UPSLOPING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A 180 DEGREE TURN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.