On June 13, 1997, a Republic RC-3-1 (registration N6290K) was involved in an aviation accident near Monument Valley, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate preflight planing/preparation, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from the terrain. Factors relating to the accident included: high, gusty, variable winds, and terrain induced downdrafts. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting takeoff in 30-knot winds gusting to 45 knots encountered strong downdrafts. At about 300 feet, the aircraft descended into terrain despite pilot's efforts.
Incident Overview
A pilot attempted a takeoff in challenging wind conditions. The wind was blowing at 30 knots, with gusts reaching 45 knots. According to reports, the wind was flowing through large rock formations near the airport, causing the wind direction to vary constantly and generating strong downdrafts.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that when the aircraft reached approximately 300 feet above the ground, it felt as though it had flown into a strong downdraft. Despite his efforts, he was unable to prevent the aircraft from descending into the terrain.
Wind Conditions
The reported wind conditions included steady winds of 30 knots with gusts up to 45 knots. The presence of large rock formations near the airport was noted to affect the wind flow, leading to variable wind directions and the creation of strong downdrafts.