The Intent Of The Flight Was To Spread The Ashes Of A Recently Deceased Family Member

Location: Meeteetse, WY Accident Number: WPR24FA291
Date & Time: September 1, 2024, 11:02 Local Registration: N23BD
Aircraft: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On September 1, 2024, about 1102 mountain daylight time, an American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, N23BD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A family member of the passenger reported that, the intent of the flight was to spread the ashes of a recently deceased family member over the Shoshone National Forest. On the day of the accident flight, the pilot and passenger met at the Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD), Cody, Wyoming, to overfly the national forest. The family member added that she observed the airplane overfly her location in the national forest, circle, and then departed to the west.

Two hunters, one of which was a rated pilot, were hunting in the area of the accident. The pilot rated witness said that he did not see the accident sequence, but heard a sputtering engine followed by the sound of an airplane impacting terrain with a “loud bang.” Black smoke was observed emanating from a group of trees about 3/4 miles from their location. Recorded ADS-B flight track data showed that the flight departed COD and flew in a southerly direction toward Shoshone National Forest. The data depicted a series of heading and altitude changes that were consistent with what the family member had described. The ADS-B data showed that at 1041:18, the airplane was on a northeast heading at an altitude of about 8,625 ft mean seal level (msl). About 33 seconds later, the airplane made a left turn to a southwest heading and descended to altitude of about 8,550 ft msl. The airplane continued on a southwesterly heading and climbed to an altitude of about 9,625 ft msl until flight track data stopped, about ½ mile northeast of the accident site.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain along the southern edge of a valley about 37 miles southwest of COD. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a 150 to 175 ft tall tree that had damaged limbs near the top of the tree. The debris path was oriented on a heading of about 210° magnetic and was about 200 ft in length from the FIPC to the main wreckage. Various portions of airplanes flight control surfaces, and propeller fragments were observed throughout the debris path. Additionally, several trees were damaged throughout the length of the debris path. The fuselage came to rest upright with several tree limbs lying against the fuselage, on a heading of about 240° magnetic at an elevation of 9,850 ft msl.

The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov