What happened
On May 9, 2025, at approximately 10:20 mountain daylight time, a Just Aircraft Superstol bearing registration N128EL was involved in an accident near Evanston, Wyoming. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
Shortly after departing runway 23 from Evanston-Uinta County Burns Field (EVW), the aircraft was on the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern at an altitude of approximately 250 feet above ground level. The pilot observed smoke emitting from the top of the engine cowling, which was immediately followed by a total loss of engine power.
In response to the failure, the pilot advanced the throttle, lowered the nose, and turned left toward runway 5. Realizing the aircraft would not reach the runway, the pilot initiated a forced landing. The aircraft struck a hillside short of a taxiway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
Weather
At the time of the accident, conditions were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 020 degrees at 9 knots.