# NTSB DEN93FA054: Witts & Church Worloch, N3201K, Lucerne, CO, May 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1993, 17:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Lucerne, CO
- Location: 40.4819° N, 104.6997° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lucerne, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4819&lon=-104.6997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18248/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93FA054

## Probable cause

LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT.  A FACTOR WAS:  THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE LEFT RUDDER IN MOST FLIGHT ATTITUDES, SO THE PILOT FABRICATED A PART TO INCREASE THE ANGLE ON INCIDENCE BY OFFSETTING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER.  AFTER INSTALLING THE PART, HE TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLIGHT AND HIS PARTNER FOLLOWED IN A CHASE AIRPLANE.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A SHALLOW DESCENT AND YAW SLIGHTLY ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS, ALSO DESCRIBED AS SHALLOW DUTCH ROLLS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD A PROBLEM AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER.  THE FABRICATED PART WAS NEVER FOUND.  A SMALL HOLE HAD BEEN DRILLED THROUGH THE TUBE WHERE THE LEADING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER ATTACHES, BUT NO HOLE HAD BEEN DRILLED THROUGH THE MATING TUBE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A PIN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SAFETIED THROUGH THIS HOLE.  IF COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE PILOT HAD INSERTED THE PIN PRIOR TO TAKING OFF.  LOAD CARRYING BRACE WIRES BENEATH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS WERE FOUND STRETCHED IN TENSION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3201K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3201K-1999-04-01), registration cancelled 1999-04-01, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WITTS & CHURCH WORLOCH
- Registry model: [Witts P / Church L WORLOCH](https://openairdocs.org/model/witts-p-church-l-worloch) (registry code 05618DS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 5
- Engines: Rotax 582 67 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Witts, P. & Church, L.
- Registered owner: Witts, P. & Church, L.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO
- Destination: GXY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 124 total, 3 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GXY, 4 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 19930506012399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930506012399A), May 6, 1993: Greeley, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Modification caused control loss. Stabilizer loose at leading edge. Caused flutter and loss of control pitch axis.

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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