The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Accident Number: CEN19LA107
Date & Time: March 23, 2019, 10:43 Local
Registration: N7879N
Aircraft: Cessna R172E
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
As the pilot approached the airport, another pilot heard him on the radio and advised him of "significant downdrafts" on the approach to runway 15. The pilot acknowledged the transmission and continued his approach. When he turned onto the base leg, he encountered the "severe downdraft/microburst" the other pilot had mentioned. He applied full power in an attempt to climb out, but the airplane continued to descend striking a power-line and tree, and subsequently impacted terrain.
A review of the weather showed that a complex wind pattern existed over the area during the period with a wind shift occurring immediately after the time of the accident. No support for convective microburst activity was noted over the area; however, a large area of light intensity precipitation with some potential for some outflow was noted, which could have been resulted in the different winds occurring over the accident site during the period. In addition, the High Resolution Rapid Refresh model sounding and satellite imagery and pilot reports noted support for mountain wave activity over the area, which supported downslope winds and downdraft activity in the area at the time of the accident. The National Weather Service had AIRMET advisories for turbulence and IFR and mountain obscuration conditions over the area, but no advisory for low-level wind shear.
It is likely the pilot encountered shifting winds due to weather system in the area. With his reduced engine power on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot most likely got into a downdraft that produced a sink rate that he could not recover from.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An inflight loss of control on landing approach due to encountering a down-draft, and the pilot's failure to take timely action to abandon the approach and perform a go-around.
Findings
Environmental issues Downdraft - Awareness of condition
Environmental issues Downdraft - Contributed to outcome
Personnel issues Incorrect action performance - Pilot
Factual Information
On March 23, 2019, at 1043 mountain daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N7879N, was destroyed when it struck a power line and impacted a dairy farm 1.5 miles northwest of runway 15 at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL), Loveland, Colorado. The pilot was seriously injured and his two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to the U.S. Air Force and operated by the Peterson Air Force Base (AFB) Aero Club, Peterson AFB, Colorado, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight. The flight originated from the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), and was en route to FNL.
The pilot, a 10-year U.S. Army UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter pilot, said he was accumulating fixed-wing civilian flight time and had brought along two passengers. According to the pilot, he and his passengers intended to fly from COS to FNL and return. He said he was weather briefed for the flight and received multiple weather briefings before takeoff. As they approached FNL from the southwest, he
made a call on FNL's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and reported he was entering a right traffic pattern for runway 15. Another pilot heard the report and advised him of "significant downdrafts" on the approach to runway 15. The pilot acknowledged the transmission and continued his approach. When he turned onto the base leg, he encountered the "severe downdraft/microburst" the other pilot had mentioned. He applied full power in an attempt to climb out, but the airplane struck a power-line and tree, and impacted terrain.
At 1056, the automated weather observation station at FNL reported, wind 170° at 11 kts, visibility of 10 miles, light rain, few clouds at 1,600 ft, ceilings 3,800 ft broken, 4,800 ft overcast, temperature 43° F, dew point 36° F, and altimeter setting 29.93 inches of Mercury.
A NTSB Meteorologist's review of the weather showed that a complex wind pattern existed over the area during the period with a wind shift occurring immediately after the time of the accident. No support for convective microburst activity was noted over the area; however, a large area of light intensity precipitation with some potential for some outflow was noted, which could have been resulted in the different winds occurring over the accident site during the period. In addition, the High Resolution Rapid Refresh model sounding and satellite imagery and pilot reports noted support for mountain wave activity over the area, which supported downslope winds and downdraft activity in the area at the time of the accident. The National Weather Service had AIRMET advisories for turbulence and IFR and mountain obscuration conditions over the area, but no advisory for low-level wind shear.
History of Flight
Approach-VFR pattern base Other weather encounter
Approach-VFR pattern base Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial; Military; Private
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: January 14, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 11, 2018
Flight Time: 1235 hours (Total, all aircraft), 52 hours (Total, this make and model), 31 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N7879N
Model/Series: R172E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: R172-0270
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: January 2, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 44.3 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 17752.1 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-DB
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 210 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: fnl,5016 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 10:56 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 135°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 1600 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3800 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 170°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.93 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Colorado Springs, CO (COS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Military VFR
Destination: Loveland, CO (FNL)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 09:15 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: Northern Colorado Regional FNL
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 5016 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 15
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 8500 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 40.451946,-105.01139(est)
Three people were hospitalized after a small plane crashed south of Fort Collins on Saturday morning.
Larimer County Sheriff's Office and Loveland Fire Authority officials responded to the plane crash in the 2800 block of East County Road 30 about 10:43 a.m. Saturday.
The pilot and two passengers were taken by ambulance to the Medical Center of the Rockies with injuries authorities believe are not life-threatening, sheriff's office Lt. Jeff Vanhook said.
"Looking at the damage to the plane, we feel very fortunate," Vanhook said. "We're hopeful they will have a full recovery."
Two people inside the plane were able to get out unassisted, and the third person got out with assistance from others at the scene before emergency responders arrived, Vanhook said.
The plane was traveling southwest when it crashed, clipping a power line and damaging a power pole, Vanhook said. Poudre Valley REA, who responded to the scene, confirmed the power line was not live.
The plane also lost about half of a tank of fuel, causing the plane and nearby ground to catch fire immediately after the crash, Loveland Fire Authority Battalion Chief Tim Smith said.
County Road 30 remained closed in that area Saturday afternoon. Sheriff's office Capt. Mike Loberg said there is no estimated time of the road reopening. The road will remain closed while crews fix the damaged power line and authorities wait for officials from the National Transportation Safety Board to remove the plane from the scene.
NTSB will conduct a joint investigation into the crash with the Federal Aviation Administration. Loberg said the sheriff's office will not release any additional information about the crash unless the investigation reveals criminal activity.
Vanhook said they do not have any information about the cause of the crash, where the plane departed from or its destination. He added they are working with the FAA to see if they have any radio transmission from the plane prior to the crash that would help them better understand its cause.
Because the crash occurred off Northern Colorado Regional Airport property, it had no effect on airport operations, according to a tweet from the airport's account.
Anyone with information regarding the crash who has not spoken with investigators is asked to call the Larimer County Sheriff's Office at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 where it's possible to remain anonymous.
Story and video ➤ https://www.coloradoan.com
The three people aboard a single-engine plane survived when the aircraft crashed Saturday morning at a farm north of Loveland.
The plane hit power lines and possibly a tree as it came down about 10:40 a.m. next to a driveway of a dairy farm at the southwest corner of County Road 30 and County Road 9 (Boyd Lake Avenue), just northwest of the Northern Colorado Regional Airport.
Fuel leaking from the plane started a fire on the ground that Loveland Fire Rescue Authority crews were able to extinguish, according to fire battalion chief Tim Smith.
The three occupants were out of the plane, which was lying in pieces under and next to the tree, by the time emergency crews arrived, Smith said.
"Two of the passengers were able to get out of the aircraft without assistance, and one got out of the aircraft with the assistance of a passerby," said Larimer County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jeff Vanhook.
He said all three were taken to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening. The names of the pilot and passengers have not been released.
"Looking at the damage to the plane, we feel very fortunate that -— we're hopeful that they will have a full recovery," Vanhook said.
"We believe the aircraft clipped a power line and one of the support lines," he said.
VanHook didn't know if the plane also hit the large tree under which some of the wreckage was lying, but the tree appeared to have torn bark and broken limbs on that side.
Next to the tree, just off County Road 30, a power pole had been sheared off about 6 feet off the ground. The top part of the pole was standing upright next to the stump, supported by the lines that remained intact.
The plane's wing lay under the tree, part of its nose section next to it, with the rest of the fuselage, upside-down, a little to the south.
After the ambulances left with the plane's occupants, a Poudre Valley REA crew worked on the power lines.
Smith said one of the concerns was the fire danger from the fuel that remained in the plane. He said the tanks were full when the plane crashed, and about half of the fuel remained onboard.
Sheriff's Office Capt. Mike Loberg said witnesses reported that the plane "looked like it was standing still. It was moving very slowly" before it hit.
The plane was traveling to the southwest when it crashed, Vanhook said.
Jason Licon, director of the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, said he doesn't believe that the plane came from the airport, but wasn't sure.
He said the crash didn't affect operations at the airport.
Fort Collins resident Glenn Dawson, a private pilot, drove to the site after the crash to briefly watch the crews at work.
He said he was in the air at the same time as the plane that crashed, and he landed right before the accident. He didn't know about the crash until he went inside the airport, he said.
Dawson said he couldn't say much about the crash until he is interviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration, but he said he experienced downdrafts in the area when he was flying.
He said the plane that crashed was a high-wing Cessna.
Vanhook said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate the accident.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.reporterherald.com
Based on the damage in the pics it's a miracle no one was killed, especially with a post-crash fire.
ReplyDeleteCAP or AirForce trainer? Flight aware shows this plane flying a very often but no pattern work. More like commuting. Maybe they’re renting out airplanes making a few bucks on the side. Since it’s taxpayer money, you can’t help but wonder what they are doing. If you ask, your being nosy.
ReplyDelete