Amateur-built SA7D accident near Evanston, Wyoming, July 2, 1989
On July 2, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built SA7D, registered N1113E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Evanston, Wyoming (Evanston 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
IMPROPER COMPENSATION BY THE PILOT FOR WIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND DOWNDRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Evanston, Wyoming · Evanston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA7D
- Registration
- N1113E · no longer on the register · serial DCB-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHILE ON AN APCH FOR A LANDING AT A HIGH ALTITUDE ARPT WITH A DENSITY ALT OF 9800 FT, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. THE APCH WAS BEING MADE TO RWY 23 WITH A WIND FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 18 KTS. THE PLT SAID THE DOWNDRAFT OCCURRED WHEN THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL & THAT SHE ADDED POWER TO LAND FURTHER DOWN THE RWY. HOWEVER, THE DOWNDRAFT FORCED THE ACFT TO THE RWY & IT LANDED HARD WHICH DAMAGED THE FUSELAGE.
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: 75 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 9:00 pm
- Destination: EVW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from EVW
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.
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.