20210403003759A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Magnus FUSION 212 · Pine, CO · April 3, 2021

Date: April 3, 2021 · 17:30 local
Place: Pine, CO
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N434MA
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN21FA177
Reported as: Magnus Fusion 212
Reported engine: ROTAX 912
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Sport pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 5 in this make and model

N434MARegistration cancelled Mar 25, 2025 · Magnus FUSION 212S/N MF-212-16-0001 · Built 2016 Airframe modelMagnus FUSION 212 Engine modelRotax 912 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On April 3, 2021 at approximately 1530 MDT, N434MA a Magnus fusion 212 LSA, crashed in the mountains outside of deckers Colorado, killing the pilot.

Minutes before the crash, the aircraft flight track was at 6,700' MSL over deckers, CO (elevation 6,400' MSL), an apparent violation of 91.119(a)(b). The wreckage was found 8 miles west of deckers on a mountain side at 9,700' MSL.

As the FAA filed it

ON APRIL 3, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 MDT, N434MA A MAGNUS FUSION 212 LSA, CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS OUTSIDE OF DECKERS COLORADO, KILLING THE PILOT.

MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH, THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TRACK WAS AT 6,700' MSL OVER DECKERS, CO (ELEVATION 6,400' MSL), AN APPARENT VIOLATION OF 91.119(A)(B). THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 8 MILES WEST OF DECKERS ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE AT 9,700' MSL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN21FA177Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportConifer, COThe pilot’s decision to fly at low altitude toward a mountainous canyon, and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering to avoid rising terrain, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control.Apr 3, 2021 · Substantial damage