Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 accident near Lysite, Wyoming, December 21, 1991
On December 21, 1991 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2, registered N71AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lysite, Wyoming. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE RISING TERRAIN, DOWNDRAFTS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1991 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lysite, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2
- Registration
- N71AT · registry record · serial 1022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON AN AERIAL SURVEY OF GAME THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A HEADWIND BUT LITTLE TURBULENCE. UPON APPROACHING A RIDGE HE EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN TO REVERSE COURSE DURING WHICH A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT REPORTED APPLYING FULL POWER AND ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AS 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,400 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 7,340 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1991; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Aviation Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: WRL Worland WY at 2:42 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from WRL, 29 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 N71AT 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.