# NTSB DEN99LA091: Crozier Emeraude, N99PC, Delta, CO, May 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1999, 09:16 local (15:16 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.740562, -108.069984 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7406&lon=-108.0700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46458/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusty tailwind and crosswinds reported, and the pilot's total lack of aeronautical experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot had flown from Delta, Colorado's, Blake Field to Delta's Hawkins Field, where he met his instructor. After making five takeoffs and landings, the instructor disembarked and the student pilot took off to return to Blake Field. He said the wind 'was crossfield at about 5 mph.' When he raised the tail to lift off, the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder, but this did not correct the excursion. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The instructor, who witnessed the accident, said it appeared that a tailwind gust had raised the tail. The student pilot had logged 43.7 hours total time in airplanes, of which 20.6 were in the Emeraude, and 12.6 hours total pilot-in-command time, of which 8.8 hours were in the Emeraude. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1999, approximately 0916 mountain daylight time, a Crozier Emeraude, N99PC, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Delta, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant aboard was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR part 91. According to his accident report, the student pilot had flown from Delta's Blake Field to Delta's Hawkins Field, where he met his instructor. After making five takeoffs and landings, the instructor disembarked and the student pilot took off to return to Blake Field. He said the wind "was crossfield at about 5 mph." When he raised the tail to lift off, the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder, but this did not correct the excursion. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The instructor, who witnessed the accident, said it appeared that a tailwind gust had raised the tail. Reportedly, the airplane sustained minor damage. The pilot suffered fractures of the left clavicle and scapula. The pilot reported he had logged 43.7 hours total time in airplanes, of which 20.6 were in the Emeraude, and 12.6 hours total pilot-in-command time, of which 8.8 hours were in the Emeraude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99PC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99PC), registered now, S/N 1PC (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Crozier EMERAUDE - Registry model: [Crozier EMERAUDE](https://openairdocs.org/model/crozier-emeraude) (registry code 7020201) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1PC - Airframe hours: 215 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert L. & April E. Barber - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: D17 - Destination: 1V9, DELTA, CO - Airport: D17, Hawkins Field, runway 22, 5,600 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 21 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 38 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 19990531040549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990531040549A), May 31, 1999: Amtr EMERAUDE, Delta, CO, No damage. (-23) During takeoff a quartering tail wind caught the tail of the a/c. the tail lifted and vained into the wind, pilot lost control and a/c flipped over on… 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.