# NTSB CEN18LA316: Champion 7GCBC, N90990, Wiley, CO, August 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2018, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Wiley, CO - Coordinates: 38.197776, -102.774719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1978&lon=-102.7747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97997/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97997 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA316 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper clearance from the sprinkler guy-wire, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with the wire during a visual approach to landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1220601), [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. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a day visual approach to landing on his airstrip; he stated that everything seemed normal on the descent. However, he noted that the agricultural irrigation pivot sprinkler had stopped with the sprinkler's last pipe, or "overhang pipe," over the runway. The pilot thought that he was high enough to clear the sprinkler overhang pipe and had "no idea" that the airplane was not going to clear the guy-wires that supported the sprinkler overhang pipe, and the right landing gear tire struck a guy-wire that was about 10 ft higher than the sprinkler overhang pipe. The airplane's nose subsequently impacted terrain, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2018, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC airplane, N90990, impacted pivot sprinkler support guy-wires and terrain during a landing on a private airstrip near Wiley, Colorado. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Lamar Municipal Airport (LAA), near Lamar, Colorado, about 0820, and was destined for the private airstrip.According to the pilot's accident report, he was setting up for landing on his airstrip and everything seemed normal on the descent. The only thing different on this landing was that the agricultural irrigation pivot sprinkler had stopped with the sprinkler's last pipe or "overhang pipe" over the runway. The pilot thought that he was high enough to clear the sprinkler overhang pipe and had "no idea" that the airplane was not going to clear the guy-wires that support the sprinkler overhang pipe. The pilot said, "After investigating the accident later it was obvious the right landing gear tire struck the [guy-]wire. The two [guy-]wires are about 10 ft higher than the overhang pipe." The airplane's nose subsequently impacted terrain and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot released the seat belt, kicked out a side window, crawled out, and called for help. A family member took the pilot to a local hospital. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90990](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90990-2019-03-30), registration cancelled 2019-03-30, S/N 440-73, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 440-73 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 1865.78 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2018 - Departed: LAA, Lamar, CO - Destination: Wiley, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KLAA, 9 nm away ## 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 20180805010119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180805010119A), Aug 5, 2018: Bellanca 7GCBC, Wiley, CO, Substantial damage. On August 5, 2018 at approximately 0910 mountain daylight time, a single engine Bellanca citabria, N90990 was substantially damaged upon impact. During the… ## 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=97997. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement and Fuel Receipt (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20and%20Fuel%20Receipt-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.