NTSB Factual Report

On July 30, 2008, at 0930 mountain daylight time, a Bristol Titan Tornado II, N25JJ, collided with terrain while attempting a precautionary landing near Green River, Utah. The commercial pilot operated the experimental category light-sport airplane under the provisions of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Cedar City, Utah, about 0700.

The pilot reported that 3 weeks prior to the accident he had taken delivery of the airplane, and he proceeded to receive approximately 10 hours of flight instruction in the airplane. He intended to fly the airplane cross-country back to his home. He took off from Cedar City, and while en route to Nephi, Utah, an unlabeled red light illuminated on the instrument panel. He checked his Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) panel and found nothing abnormal. Concerned that the light may indicate low oil pressure, the pilot performed a precautionary landing on to a narrow gravel path. During the landing, the airplane impacted a stone and bounced off the steeply banked path into the sand below.

The builder of the airplane related to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the red light was part of the EFIS. If a parameter monitored by the EFIS is outside its set limits, then the red light on the instrument panel will illuminate and the parameter that is out of limits will display on the EFIS screen. The parameters monitored by the EFIS are engine rpm, fuel quantity, exhaust gas temperature, oil temperature and pressure, and cylinder head temperature. Other items monitored by the EFIS are engine operating times, and scheduled maintenance information messages.

NTSB Probable Cause

The encounter with rough terrain during an off-field precautionary landing.