Amateur-built F8L accident near Grantsville, Utah, August 7, 1988
On August 7, 1988 at about 1:20 pm local time, a amateur-built F8L, registered N69WD, was destroyed in an accident near Grantsville, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1988 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Grantsville, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built F8L
- Registration
- N69WD · no longer on the register · serial 622
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS ACDT INVOLVED A HOMEBUILT, SIDE-BY-SIDE, TWO PLACE, LOW WING, HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO VISIT AN AIRSHOW AT WENDOVER. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED TO BE CLEAR WITH LIGHT WINDS. RADAR TRACK DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TRACKED STRAIGHT AND LEVEL TO THE ACDT SITE AT 7,500 FT MSL (2,900 FT AGL). THE TRACK WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ON ONE SWEEP AND WAS NOT SEEN ON THE NEXT SWEEP. THE ACDT SITE WAS IN LEVEL, OPEN DESERT TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. EXAM OF THE SITE AND WRECKAGE REVEAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTING A STALL/SPIN TYPE OF IMPACT. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE OR DEFICIENCY OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENG. THE PLT RECEIVED A .4 HR CHECKOUT IN THE ACFT THE DAY BEFORE THE ACDT AND HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 1.4 HRS IN THE ACFT. HIS LOGBOOK SHOWED 1.4 HRS TOTAL TIME SINCE DECEMBER 29, 1987.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 428 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1988; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 1:02 pm
- Destination: ENV Wendover UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from SLC, 40 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 N69WD 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.