Wreckage Found On Antelope Island

A Utah pilot was killed Tuesday when his homebuilt CH601XL Zodiac went down on Antelope Island, for as-yet undetermined reasons.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Kirk Babbit, 37, departed Tooele Valley Airport at around 8 am Tuesday morning, heading for Bountiful Sky Park. Family members said Babbit often flew the route as part of his commute to work in Salt Lake City.

Davis County sheriff Lt. Brad Wilcox said Babbit's family reported the pilot missing at 9:30 am, when Babbit's wife didn't receive a customary email letting her know Kirk had arrived safely at his job.

The Civil Air Patrol launched a search for the missing aircraft at approximately 1 pm, searching a grid over the Great Salt Lake. Search crews discovered an ELT signal around 4:40 pm, and the wreckage was found about a half-mile south of Antelope Island State Park that evening.

The aircraft (type shown below) was found in a steep ravine, about 1.5 miles east of the lake shore. Weather conditions were reported as clear, but with gusting winds in the area.

Officials say Babbit was familiar with the route, noting he flew under the Class B umbrella over Salt Lake City International Airport to avoid the busy air traffic corridor. Wilcox said the pilot reportedly had about 500 hours flight time.

FAA records show the accident aircraft was built in 2007.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 3683X        Make/Model: EXP       Description: ZODIAC 601XL
  Date: 03/03/2009     Time: 1600

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: SALT LAKE CITY   State: UT   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS
  FATALLY INJURED, NEAR SALT LAKE CITY, UT

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KSLC 031553Z 16015KT 10SM FEW070 SCT140 BKN200 13/00 A2993

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: SALT LAKE CITY, UT  (NM07)            Entry date: 03/04/2009

FMI: www.faa.gov