DEN04CA095

NTSB accident investigation · Northwing WS2 · Fort Collins, CO · June 13, 2004

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 13, 2004, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Fort Collins, CO
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
UNREGNorthwing WS2
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 1, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
Case key
59495

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors include low altitude, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerClimb - to cruise
Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in commandCause
Reason for occurrence undeterminedFactor
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Altitude - lowFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encounteredFactor
Terrain condition - berm

Analysis

The pilot stated that he had just departed an airstrip and was approximately 100 feet agl when the engine lost power. He attempted to return to the field and landed "perpendicular [to the] grass strip." During the landing roll, the ultralight struck a berm, became airborne, and settled into an adjacent cornfield destroying the ultralight and seriously injuring the pilot. The pilot reported possible fuel problems for the loss of power.

Factual narrative

On June 13, 2004, at approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Northwing WS2, an unregistered ultralight, was destroyed when it impacted a cornfield adjacent to Yankee Field, an ultralight airstrip 5 miles northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported he had just departed runway 18 and was approximately 100 feet agl when the engine lost power. He attempted to return to the field and landed "perpendicular [to the] grass strip." During the landing roll, the ultralight struck a berm, became airborne, and settled into an adjacent cornfield. The ultralight was destroyed and the pilot broke his right arm. The pilot reported possible fuel problems for the loss of power.

Aircraft

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Northwing WS2
Category
Ultralight, amateur-built
Serial number
13RRT
Engine
Rotax 582, 66 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
Fort Collins, CO
Airport
N/A · Yankee Field, runway 180, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
54
Injuries
Serious
Seat
Front
Flight hours
52 total · 52 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
FNL, 5 nm away