Wright Hughes 1-B accident near Yellowstone Nat, WY
On August 5, 2003, a Wright Hughes 1-B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Yellowstone Nat, WY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 5, 2003
- Place
- Yellowstone Nat, WY
- Aircraft
- Wright Hughes 1-B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 44.525°N, 110.834°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030815X01342
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 2003, at approximately 1835 mountain daylight time, a Wright, Hughes 1-B amateur-built airplane, N258Y, was destroyed following an uncontrolled descent to the terrain in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was fatally injured. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated at approximately 1735 from Gillette, Wyoming. The pilot had not filed a flight plan; however, friends of the pilot said the destination was Cottage Grove, Oregon [260 degrees for 758 nautical miles]. The pilot was flying from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, (Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in) back to his home. Witnesses at Gillette, Wyoming, said that he landed there for fuel at approximately 1600. They said that he departed at approximately 1640, but returned and landed because his controllable propeller was stuck in the high RPM position [takeoff position]. Several witnesses said the pilot got on a ladder with some tools and lubricant, and he worked in the vicinity of the propeller for some time. They reported that he departed a second time at approximately 1735. The pilot's lead mechanic said that the pilot called him following his quick return to Gillette, Wyoming. The pilot reported that he had had some difficultly with the propeller remaining in high RPM (takeoff position) after his first takeoff [this was a recurring problem]. The pilot said that he would lubricate it and adjust it, and if all worked well, would continue
Probable cause
The in-flight loss of a propeller counterweight, followed by the pilot's loss of aircraft control during a forced landing attempt and subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground.
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Browse: Wyoming
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
