# NTSB CEN18LA303: Buchanan Kitfox IV, N125TY, Loma, CO, July 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2018, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Loma, CO - Coordinates: 39.135276, -109.025558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1353&lon=-109.0256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97955/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97955 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to conduct a low-altitude flight over a river and his inadequate monitoring of the environment, which resulted in a collision with a cableway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620OL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed on a cross-country, personal flight, and during the flight, he chose to fly at low altitude over a river. The pilot reported that, after passing over a group of river rafters about 500 ft above ground level, he "dropped [the airplane] low to the river." Shortly after descending, the airplane's vertical stabilizer struck a cableway that crossed over the river. The pilot lost airplane control, and the airplane subsequently impacted the side of the river canyon and then came to rest partially submerged in the river. The cableway was supported by two fixed A-frame structures located on the sides of the riverbank, and the cable height at its center above the water's surface was 32 ft. The pilot likely was not properly monitoring the environment during the low-altitude operation, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid the cableway. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2018, about 1130 mountain daylight time, a Buchanan Kitfox IV experimental airplane, N125TY, impacted a cableway while maneuvering at low altitude over the Colorado River near Loma, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The airplane departed the Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado, about 1100, and was destined for Cedar City, Utah. According to the pilot, he departed GJT and elected to fly at low altitude over the Colorado River. After over passing a group of river rafters about 500 ft above ground level, the pilot "dropped [the airplane] low to the river." Shortly after descending, the airplane's vertical stabilizer struck a cableway (owned and maintained by the US Geological Survey (USGS)) that crossed over the river. The pilot lost control of the airplane, and the airplane impacted the side of the river canyon. The airplane came to rest partially submerged in the river, and the pilot was rescued by passing river rafters (Figure 1). Figure 1 - Accident Site (photo provided by Mesa County Sheriff's Office) According to the USGS, the cableway is supported by two fixed A-frame structures located on the sides of the riverbank. The center of the cable to the water surface is 32 ft (Figure 2). Figure 2 - Cableway dimensions (USGS) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125TY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125TY), registered now, S/N HCU089, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUCHANAN Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/buchanan-kitfox-iv-1200) (registry code 05620OL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HCU089 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 814 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, May 31, 2018 - Departed: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,240 total, 783 in this make and model, 1,077 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180731018459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180731018459A), Jul 31, 2018: Buchanan KITFOX IV-1200, Loma, CO, Destroyed. While flying from grand junction, CO to san diego, CA pilot low leveled 20 feet over the Colorado river through a canyon between Loma, CO and mack, CO and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97955. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Cableway Dimensions (USGS) (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cableway%20Dimensions%20(USGS)-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 301 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.