Update on the Walton ultralight crash?

[9GClub]

Anybody got any information? Asking, of course, with all due respect-- and not meaning to make a debacle out of it-- but follow-up to these things can be beneficial.

In related news, does anyone know where on the 'net to get updates on incidents/accidents before the NTSB reports are completed? Local news is rarely helpful......

 

[User546]

You can always visit the NTSB website and get accident synopsis, which give you a lot of information - typically within a week after an accident.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/month.asp
​

Walton's crash synopsis is below:

NTSB Identification: DEN05FA100
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, June 27, 2005 in Jackson, WY
Aircraft: CGS Aviation Hawk Arrow, registration:
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
​

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 27, 2005, approximately 1225 mountain daylight time, an unregistered CGS Aviation Hawk Two Place Arrow experimental homebuilt airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a descent during the base leg of the visual approach to runway 19 at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), Jackson, Wyoming. The commercial rated pilot, who was the sole occupant and owner of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed JAC at 1218.

Several witnesses reported that the airplane departed runway 19, and immediately climbed to approximately 500 feet above ground level (agl), while maintaining runway heading. The airplane then turned left onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern and maintained a slight climb. Two witnesses, who were traveling southbound in motor vehicles on Highway 89 (parallel to JAC runway 01/19), reported that they observed the airplane on the left downwind leg at an altitude of 700 - 900 feet agl.

One witness, who was also in a vehicle, observed the airplane turn left (west) onto the base leg for runway 19. Shortly after the turn, the airplane began descending in a nose-low attitude. The airplane's airspeed and nose-down attitude gradually increased during the descent. The airplane then impacted terrain, bounced, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot was in communication with the JAC air traffic control tower during the accident flight. The pilot did not report any problems. Recorded weather at JAC just prior to the accident indicated the wind from 180 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies, and a temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

The airplane impacted sage brush-covered flat terrain approximately 575 feet west of Highway 89, and 3/4-mile north of the approach end of runway 19. The airplane wreckage was transported to a vacant hangar at JAC for further examination by the NTSB. The airplane was equipped with a Hirth 3701 engine rated at 100 horsepower. Initial examination of the wreckage did not reveal any obvious indications of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe, engine, or systems. There was no evidence of fire, explosion, or in-flight structural failure. Control cable continuity for all flight controls was established. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver was found in the wreckage; it has been sent to the Safety Board's recorder laboratory in Washington DC for possible non-volatile memory extraction of flight path, altitude, and ground speed data.

 

[9GClub]

Thanks man, 'preciate it.

 

[Swamp Fox]

9G - I saw a news brief the other day (AvWeb, maybe?) that said the owner of the company that built Walton's kit (a CGS Hawk, I believe) had seen photos of the wreckage and that the plane may have been flown without a fuselage cover. He commented that the airplane was not designed to fly without the cover. Could be relevant.