No fatalities

17 Aug 2009: ROCKWELL 690 A — KOLOB CANYONS AIR SERVICES, INC. — Wenatchee, WA

Wenatchee, WA, United States

On 17 Aug 2009, a ROCKWELL 690 A operated by KOLOB CANYONS AIR SERVICES, INC. was involved in an aviation accident near Wenatchee, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness, and thus clearance from objects, while operating at low altitude. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a local scenic flight, the pilot descended over a ski resort. After a family member spotted friends, a climbing left turn led to a wing colliding with trees. The pilot landed uneventfully at the departure airport.

Flight Details

The pilot was conducting a local scenic flight with family members. The flight proceeded over nearby mountains before descending to fly over a local ski resort.

Incident

A family member reported seeing friends in the resort's parking lot. In response, the pilot performed a climbing left turn to make another pass over the area. While looking for his friends, the pilot stated that he failed to monitor his altitude. During this maneuver, one wing collided with trees.

Damage and Outcome

The collision resulted in damage to the wing's spar and aileron. Despite the damage, the pilot was able to land uneventfully at the departure airport.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot