- Date
- April 9, 2011, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Collins, CO
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3581SRans S12
- Defining event
- Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 3, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Denver FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110409006519A
- Case key
- 78880
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent application of full right rudder during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was conducting an off-airport precautionary landing due to an unanticipated gusting wind and turbulence. Just before touchdown the pilot made a sudden right turn to avoid a single-wire electric livestock fence when the right wing stalled and he lost control. The airplane then impacted terrain causing substantial damage to the fuselage frame, both wings, and the engine mount. The pilot stated that he had more experience in weight-shift control light sport airplanes and that the throttle in that type of aircraft was controlled with the right foot. He commented that during the sudden right turn he might have inadvertently applied full right rudder thinking that he was applying full throttle. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was executing an off-airport precautionary landing due to unanticipated gusty winds and turbulence. Just before touchdown the pilot made a sudden right turn to avoid a single wire electric livestock fence when "the right wing then suddenly stalled" and control was lost. The airplane impacted terrain causing substantial damage to the fuselage frame, both wings, and the engine mount, but remained upright. The pilot stated that he had more experience in weight shift control light sport airplanes and that the throttle in that type of aircraft was controlled with the right foot. He commented that during the sudden right turn he might have inadvertently applied full right rudder thinking that he was applying full throttle. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3581S
- Reported as
- Rans S12 (XL)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10
- Airframe hours
- 917
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 3, 2011
- Departed
- CO53 · Fort Collins, CO
- Destination
- CO53 · Fort Collins, CO
- Airport
- CO53 · Yankee Field Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Last flight review
- August 4, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 439 total · 134 in this make and model · 439 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.54 inHg
- Observed at
- KGXY, 20 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.