# NTSB DEN89FA083: Craven'S Quickie Q2, N3278C, Watkins, CO, March 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1989, 14:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Location: 39.6984° N, 104.5772° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watkins, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6984&lon=-104.5772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17581
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17581/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA083

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field
- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

N3278C, A WESTBOUND QUICKIE Q2, AND N7392G, A NORTHBOUND CESSNA 172K, COLLIDED IN MIDAIR AT RELATIVELY LOW ALT. VMC PREVAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT EITHER PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N3278C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3278C-1989-07-21), registration cancelled 1989-07-21, S/N 2709 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CRAVEN'S QUICKIE Q2
- Registry model: [Craven R Dean QUICKIE 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/craven-r-dean-quickie-2) (registry code 05645LH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2709
- Airframe hours: 62
- Engines: REVMASTER 2100-D 67 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bucy, Robert M.
- Registered owner: Robert M Bucy
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 28, 1988, 24 hours before
- Departed: 01V, WATKINS, CO
- Destination: 01V
- Airport: Q1V, Aurora, runway 14, 4,694 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N7392G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7392G-2001-01-19), registration cancelled 2001-01-19, S/N 17259092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259092
- Airframe hours: 1219
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Fred L./Harold L. Wright
- Registered owner: Frederick L & Harold L Wright
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 1988, 87 hours before
- Departed: AKRON, CO
- Destination: 01V, WATKINS, CO
- Airport: Q1V, Aurora, runway 14, 4,694 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N3278C; age 41; flight engineer, airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,114 total, 43 in this make and model, 1,897 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N7392G; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 914 total, 914 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BKF, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890308003301A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890308003301A), Mar 8, 1989: Amtrqk QUICKIE2, Aurora, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided in flight and severed tail of Cessna N7392G. Impact severed the quickies wing. No evasive action noted.
- [Accident 19890308003302A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890308003302A), Mar 8, 1989: Cessna 172K, Aurora, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Impact in flight with N3278C severed the empannage and both aircraft crashed out of control. No evasive action seen

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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