# NTSB DEN04CA095: Northwing WS2, Fort Collins, CO, June 13, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2004, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Collins, CO
- Coordinates: 40.641666, -104.984725
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6417&lon=-104.9847&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59495
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59495/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA095

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - altitude - low (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (contributing factor)
  - 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Northwing WS2
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number: 13RRT
- Engines: 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.

- 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

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.

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