Amateur-built RANS S-6S COYOTE II accident near Koosharem, Utah, May 29, 2010
On May 29, 2010 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-6S COYOTE II, registered N151YZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Koosharem, Utah. 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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign on the side of his landing area (a dirt road). Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to perform a fly-by of the road to check for hazards.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2010 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Koosharem, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-6S COYOTE II
- Registration
- N151YZ · registry record · serial 07031510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that on average he lands on a dirt county road about 15 times per year. On this approach, he did not perform a fly-by of the road to check for hazards. Unknown to him, the road and some signs had been improved since the last time he had landed there. He landed towards the northwest and had a right crosswind from the northeast at about 12-15 miles per hour during the approach. After an uneventful touchdown, he saw a sign on the left side of the road that was not there on any previous flights or landings. He immediately applied right rudder to avoid the sign but the left wing made contact with it. The airplane spun to the left and impacted a dirt berm, which caused the airplane to nose over. The pilot stated that there was no pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane, and that he meant to land on the road.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Awareness of condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 495 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 495 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 26, 2010; 485 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UT99 Fairfield UT at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Koosharem UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; a few clouds
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N151YZ 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.