Amateur-built High Tow accident near Jackson, Wyoming, July 5, 2006
On July 5, 2006, a amateur-built High Tow, registered N19BB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Wyoming (Fish Creek Ranch Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to low cylinder compression and fouled spark plugs. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2006
- Place
- Jackson, Wyoming · Fish Creek Ranch Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built High Tow
- Registration
- N19BB · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot he intended to overfly a local music festival. Both wing struts on the airplane were equipped with a flag measuring 3 feet by 2 feet. During the takeoff, it "appeared as if the engine was not making full power, possibly due to plug fouling." The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and the airplane "overran the end of the runway, hit a barb wire fence, and flipped over into a stream on the other side of the fence" resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine revealed six fouled spark plugs and low compression on 4 cylinders. Density altitude was calculated to be 8580 feet.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 8,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackson Hole WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from JAC, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N19BB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.