Glasair GLASAIR III C-GGTM

Summary

On 7 April 2008 at about 21:30 local time, a Glasair GLASAIR III registered C-GGTM was involved in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 2008 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

41.5486, -104.8825

Aircraft

Glasair GLASAIR III

Registration

C-GGTM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greybull → Larned

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08LA105

1 person died.

The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, snow and whiteout conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non instrument-rated private pilot departed under visual flight rules (VFR) for a planned cross country flight over mountainous terrain. During the cruise phase of the flight, the pilot was receiving radar flight following service. As the flight progressed, due to clouds, the pilot requested a lower altitude from the air traffic controller who was working the flight. Radar data showed that the airplane descended from the original cruise altitude, then performed a series of turns while continuing to descend prior to radar contact being lost. A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported hearing an airplane fly overhead at a low altitude followed by the sounds of the airplane impacting the ground. The witness added that at the time he heard the airplane fly over, visibility was around 100 to 150 feet with near "whiteout" conditions due to heavy snow falling. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.